Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine
Volume 2, Issue 3 , Pages 169-176, September 2006

Cellular replication and atomic force microscope imaging using a UV-Bioimprint technique

  • J.J. Muys, BCom, BSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
    • MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
    • ,
  • M.M. Alkaisi, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
    • MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
    • ,
  • J.J. Evans, PhD

      Affiliations

    • MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
    • Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand

Received 16 February 2006; accepted 19 July 2006.

Abstract 

Replication and fixation techniques have been of considerable interest for imaging and analysis of biological cells since the introduction of electron and scanning probe microscopy. Although such tools as the atomic force microscope (AFM) permit in situ morphological studies at a magnitude of resolution beyond traditional optical microscopy, they are diffcult to operate and their resolution capabilities are rarely realized. We used a UV-Bioimprint replication technique to imprint a polymer layer onto cells attached to a substrate and rapidly cure to create an impression of cell topography. Replicas of chemically fixed and untreated cells analyzed by atomic force microscopy demonstrate nanometer resolution in the transfer of replicated features. UV-Bioimprint presents an improvement over techniques using heat-curable polymers as well as an alternative technique to the direct imaging of cells. The motivation for UV-Bioimprint is to effectively integrate scanning probe microscopy tools for imaging of cellular ultrastructure.

Key words: Bioimprint, AFM, Cellular replication, Pituitary cells

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 The authors wish to acknowledge J. Nagase for her support in cell culture techniques and preparation of materials, and D.O.S Melville, E. Berthier, G. Turner, and H. Devereux for their contributions. This research was supported by the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology and the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, New Zealand.

PII: S1549-9634(06)00101-8

doi:10.1016/j.nano.2006.07.003

Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine
Volume 2, Issue 3 , Pages 169-176, September 2006

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution