Report on AFM System Use to Study the Properties of DNA and DNA Nanostructures

摘要

JPK Instruments reports on the use of their AFM system, the NanoWizard~R, in the Nanobiosciences Group of the Institute of Physical & Theoretical Chemistry at the Technical University of Braunschweig. It is being used to study DNA and DNA nanostructures. Dr Philip Tinnefeld is Professor of Biophysical Chemistry at the Technische Universitat Braunschweig where he runs a laboratory which specialises in the field of NanoBioScience. His group has pioneered the integration of DNA origami with optical single-molecule spectroscopy over the last few years. In this context, they have demonstrated some of the early applications where the breakthroughs of DNA nanotechnology achieved by others could actually lead to practically useful products and assays. DNA nanostructures are applied for calibration standards known as 'nanorulers'; as breadboards for energy transfer cascades and switches; as scaffolds for the production of nanoantennas; as biocompatible surfaces. Currently, the group is working on new amplification mechanisms for diagnostic applications.