Contact:
Casper Hyttel Clausen, DTU Nanotech, 452-55829 (casper.clausen@nanotech.dtu.dk)
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AFM image of a peptide nanosphere cut in the middle by an AFM tip. |
Great interest has recently been given to peptide nanotubes as opposed to carbon nanotubes. As peptides can be assembled into nanotubes simply, without the use of expensive equipment, and fast and as they are biocompatible, researchers have envisioned uses for them as e.g. drug carriers for specific treatment. They have also been shown to enhance the sensitivity of biosensors if properly functionalised. Little is however known for their mechanical properties. The forces needed to break them for example are rather important to ensure that they are stable under harsh conditions.
The project will focus on the use of an atomic force microscope (AFM) to investigate the mechanical properties of self assembled peptide structures. In order to do this a simple grid will be fabricated in the Danchip cleanroom for later investigations of the mechanical induced changes made with AFM. The project will be carried out in the Nano Bio Integrated Systems (NaBIS) group at the Institute for Micro- and Nanotechnology at the Technical University of Denmark.
The learning objective is to give an introduction to:
1) Cleanroom fabrication
2) Self assembly of peptide structures
3) The use of an AFM for manipulation of nanoscale structures