SBIR-STTR Award

NaugaNeedles LLC in collaboration with researchers from Purdue University are proposing to develop an advanced new Ultra-Soft Atomic Force Microscope (USAFM). This USAFM can gently create images of soft biological samples in buffer solutions with sub-picoNewton (pN) forces and sub-nm lateral resolution. This new AFM technology will have a high-bandwidth to ensure compatibility with high speed scanners. The USAFM requires development of (1) a new, small mass, ultra-soft, yet high frequency cantilevers with sharp tips and (2) an advanced motion detector instrumentation to detect ultra-soft cantilever motions. The key is to significantly decrease the cantilever's mass, which will consequently increase its resonance frequency and decrease its thermal vibration at low frequencies. Metallic silver-gallium (Ag2Ga) nano- cantilevers produced by NaugaNeedles are Ideal candidates for ultra-sensitive cantilevers since (a) they are orders of magnitude smaller than conventional cantilevers, (b) have approximately two orders of magnitude softer (k~10-4 N/m) bending stiffness, and (c) have a resonance frequencies of approximately 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than the softest commercially available cantilevers. Since this new AFM technology will have a high-bandwidth it will be compatible with high speed scanners. To demonstrate the feasibility of the USAFM, Phase I has three specific aims: 1. Fabrication of ultra-soft probes (USPs): Silver-gallium (Ag2Ga) crystalline nano- cantilevers will be fabricated in various lengths (5 to 50

Public Health Relevance Statement:
PROJECT NARRATIVE The focus of this proposal is to develop an ultra-soft atomic force microscope (USAFM). The USAFM can gently create images of soft biological samples with molecular resolution in liquid environments. This is done by applying sub-picoNewton (pN) forces to the molecules. To successfully develop a USAFM NaugaNeedles should first develop (1) a new, small mass, ultra-soft, yet high frequency cantilevers with sharp tips and (2) an advanced motion detector instrumentation to detect ultra-soft cantilever motions. This new and enhanced AFM technology will have a high-bandwidth, ensuring its compatibility with high speed scanners.

NIH Spending Category:
Bioengineering; Nanotechnology

Project Terms:
Advanced Instrumentation; Ag element; Air; Antibodies; Area; Atomic Force Microscope; Atomic Force Microscopes; Atomic Force Microscopy; Biological; Biophysics; Blood Coagulation Factor I; Blood Coagulation Factor One; Blood Factor One; Buffers; Caliber; Calibration; Cell Communication and Signaling; Cell Signaling; Cells; Coagulation Factor I; Coagulation Factor One; Collaborations; Computer Instrumentation; Computers and Advanced Instrumentation; Detection; Development; Diameter; Electric Field Microscopes; Electromagnetic, Laser; Ensure; Environment; Factor I; Factor One; Fiber; Fibrinogen; Force Microscopy; Frequencies (time pattern); Frequency; Ga element; Gallium; Gamma Globulin, 19S; Gamma Globulin, 7S; Head; Hydrogen Oxide; IgG; IgM; Image; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Individual; Instrumentation, Other; Intracellular Communication and Signaling; Investigators; Lasers; Lateral; Lateral Force Microscopes; Legal patent; Length; Letters; Liquid substance; Location; Magnetic Force Microscopes; Manufacturer; Manufacturer Name; Marketing; Measurement; Measures; Mechanics; Medicine; Microscopes, Scanning Probe; Microscopy; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Molecular; Motion; Optics; Patents; Phase; Physiologic; Physiological; Process; Property; Property, LOINC Axis 2; Proteins; Protocol; Protocols documentation; Radial; Radiation, Laser; Research Personnel; Researchers; Resolution; Sampling; Scanning; Scanning Force Microscopy; Scanning Probe Microscopes; Scanning Thermal Microscopes; Scanning Tunneling Microscopes; Science of Medicine; Sight; Signal Transduction; Signal Transduction Systems; Signaling; Silver; Solutions; Speed; Speed (motion); Stimulus; Structure; Technology; Testing; Universities; Vibration; Vibration - physical agent; Vision; Water; Width; analytical tool; biological signal transduction; biological systems; cantilever; cost; detector; drug discovery; experiment; experimental research; experimental study; fluid; gene product; imaging; instrumentation; liquid; nano cantilever; nanocantilever; prototype; public health relevance; research study; ultra high resolution; vibration