MICROSCOPY TIP

• US 20070082352A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter Cumpson
• Original Assignee: Peter Cumpson
• Inventors: Cumpson, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/531,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20070082352A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6837 using probe arrays or probe chips C12Q1/6874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6869 Methods for sequencing
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/601 being a microscope, e.g. atomic force microscopy [AFM]

Abstract

Disclosed is a tip for use in atomic force microscopy. The tip includes a substrate and a three-dimensional, double-stranded nucleic acid structure attached thereto. The nucleic acid structure may have a single-stranded nucleic acid attached thereto, such as an aptamer sequence. In use, the tip having the nucleic acid structure can be brought into contact with a surface to be imaged.

Claims

1. A tip for use in atomic force microscopy comprising a substrate and a three-dimensional double-stranded nucleic acid structure attached thereto.

2. A tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the double-stranded nucleic acid structure comprises DNA.

3. A tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the double-stranded nucleic acid structure comprises a polynucleic acid analog.

4. A tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the double-stranded nucleic acid structure is tetrahedral in shape.

5. A tip as claimed in claim 4 wherein the sides of the structure are from about 3 nm to about 10 nm in length.

6. A tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the double-stranded nucleic acid structure is pyramidal in shape.

7. A tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the double-stranded nucleic acid is attached to the substrate via thiol interactions.

8. A tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon and silicon nitride.

9. A tip as claimed in claim 8 where the double-stranded nucleic acid structure is attached to the substrate by silane bonding.

10. A tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate is a cantilever or cantilever tip.

11. A tip as claimed in claim 1 wherein a single-stranded nucleic acid is attached to the double-stranded nucleic acid structure.

12. A tip as claimed in claim 11 wherein the single-stranded nucleic acid is attached to a peptide antibody or bead.

13. A method of making a tip for atomic force microscopy comprising:

attaching a three-dimensional double-stranded nucleic acid structure to a substrate, wherein the nucleic acid structure is dimensioned and configured so that it can be brought into contact with a surface to be imaged.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the double-stranded nucleic acid structure is tetrahedron-shaped.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the double-stranded nucleic acid structure is prepared using complementary nucleotides subjected to a denaturation step and an annealing step, wherein the annealing step is carried out at from about 50°

C. to about 60°

C.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the duration of the annealing step is from about 15 to about 30 minutes.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the oligonucleotides are purified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

18. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the double-stranded nucleic acid structure is attached to a cantilever tip.

19. A method of atomic force microscopy including bringing a tip comprising a three-dimensional double-stranded nucleic acid structure into contact with a surface to be imaged.