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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/J85318/01
Title: PROBING RECOGNITION PROCESS USING A MODIFIED ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPE
Principal Investigator: Luckham, Professor PF
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemical Engineering
Organisation: Imperial College London
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 March 1995 Ends: 31 March 1997 Value (£): 204,030
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Surfaces & Interfaces
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
it is proposed to modify an atomic force microscope to study molecular recognition interactions, in particular the interactions involved in biosystems. Initially a protein or lipid film will be deposited on a flat mica substrate. An antibody or lectin which will interact specifically with the modified substrate will be immobilised on the AFM tip. The interaction forces between these molecules and the surface will then be determined. As an example the interaction between wheat germ agglutinin and lipid head groups containing sialic acid will be studied. Initially particles bearing the active molecules will be attached to the AFM tip. Modified polymer latex particles and colloidal gold commercially available for this purpose. In future we plan to chemically graft the molecules onto AFM tips directly using standard immobilisation chemistry. Thus we shall be able to probe the interactions between individual molecules using AFM technologies. Furthermore the potential exists for extending this technique to investigate cell surface interactions.
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Organisation Website: http://www.imperial.ac.uk