Multifunctional hydrogel nano-probes for atomic force microscopy

Jae Seol Lee, Jungki Song, Seong Oh Kim, Seokbeom Kim, Wooju Lee, Joshua A. Jackman, Dongchoul Kim, Nam-Joon Cho () and Jungchul Lee ()
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Jae Seol Lee: Sogang University
Jungki Song: Sogang University
Seong Oh Kim: School of Materials Science and Engineering and Centre for Biomimetic Sensor Science, Nanyang Technological University
Seokbeom Kim: Sogang University
Wooju Lee: Sogang University
Joshua A. Jackman: School of Materials Science and Engineering and Centre for Biomimetic Sensor Science, Nanyang Technological University
Dongchoul Kim: Sogang University
Nam-Joon Cho: School of Materials Science and Engineering and Centre for Biomimetic Sensor Science, Nanyang Technological University
Jungchul Lee: Sogang University

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Since the invention of the atomic force microscope (AFM) three decades ago, there have been numerous advances in its measurement capabilities. Curiously, throughout these developments, the fundamental nature of the force-sensing probe—the key actuating element—has remained largely unchanged. It is produced by long-established microfabrication etching strategies and typically composed of silicon-based materials. Here, we report a new class of photopolymerizable hydrogel nano-probes that are produced by bottom-up fabrication with compressible replica moulding. The hydrogel probes demonstrate excellent capabilities for AFM imaging and force measurement applications while enabling programmable, multifunctional capabilities based on compositionally adjustable mechanical properties and facile encapsulation of various nanomaterials. Taken together, the simple, fast and affordable manufacturing route and multifunctional capabilities of hydrogel AFM nano-probes highlight the potential of soft matter mechanical transducers in nanotechnology applications. The fabrication scheme can also be readily utilized to prepare hydrogel cantilevers, including in parallel arrays, for nanomechanical sensor devices.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11566

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