Biological materials exhibit remarkable, purpose-adapted properties that provide a source of inspiration for designing new to meet the requirements future applications. For instance, marine mussels are able attach broad spectrum hard surfaces under hostile conditions. Controlling wet-adhesion synthetic macromolecules by analogue processes promises strongly impact sciences offering advanced coatings, adhesives, and glues. The de novo design mimic complex aspects mussel adhesion still...

Abstract Poly( N ‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels are well known for their temperature‐dependent water uptake and release. Hence, they ideal candidates management applications. However, efficiency rate of release, respectively, have to be optimized. Here, highly stable 3D PNIPAM sponges that show a sufficiently low density high specific pore volume, required maximizing the amount absorption‐desorption, presented. They prepared by top‐down approach based on freeze‐drying dispersion...

Direct force measurements by atomic microscopy (AFM) have become an indispensable analytical tool in the last decades. Force been widely used for adhesion measurements, often combination with colloidal probe technique. For latter technique, a particle is attached to end of AFM cantilever, proving great flexibility terms colloid/surface interaction be studied. Interestingly, question how much data necessary obtain statistically reliable results has addressed this context only sparsely. By...

ABSTRACT PEDOT:PSS is a widely applied material in the field of organic electronics. Due to its mixed ionic‐electronic conductivity, it popular for soft actuators based on stimulated ion exchange. However, confined spaces like thin films, interfaces play an important role actuation. Hence, we studied actuation behavior films with film thicknesses ranging from 100 nm up 3 μm by atomic force microscopy. We observed decrease relative expansion thicker films. Moreover, volume charge density also...

Long-range interactions between sub-micron silica particles have been determined by means of a combination atomic force microscopy (AFM) with nanofluidics, which allows for temporary immobilization small probe an external pressure.

Colloidal particles have been prepared from polyanionic and polycationic recombinant spider silk protein. The amino acid sequences of these proteins are identical except for 16 residues bearing either a cationic or an anionic ionizable group. Electrophoretic titration showed that protonation the acidic basic acids had significant impact on electrophoretic mobility protein and, in particular, their point zero (PZM). experimentally determined PZMs good agreement with theoretical values...

The colloidal probe (CP) technique is an essential tool for quantitative direct force measurements by atomic microscopy (AFM). By attaching a particle to the free end of AFM-cantilever, not only defined interaction geometry can be accomplished, but also nearly arbitrary surface chemistry becomes possible. Commonly, CP-technique utilized spherical particles in sphere/sphere or sphere/plane geometry. Here, has been extended rod-shaped colloids with diameters well below one micrometer, thus...

The adhesion of alginate hydrogels to solid surfaces was probed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the sphere/plane geometry. For this purpose a novel approach has been developed for immobilization soft colloidal probes onto AFM-cantilevers, which is inspired techniques originating from cell biology. aspiration and consecutive manipulation hydrogel beads micropipettes allows entire sequence be carried-out situ. Hence, any alteration upon drying can excluded. adhesive behaviour first...

Abstract The colloidal probe technique, which is based on the atomic force microscope, revolutionizes direct measurements in many fields, such as interface science or biomechanics. It allows for first time to determine interaction forces single particle cell level. However, applications, important “blind spots” remain, namely, possibility potentials nanoparticles complex colloids with a soft outer shell. Definitely, these are systems that currently of major industrial importance and interest...

Recombinant spider silk proteins, such as eADF4(C16), can be used for various applications. Colloidal particles of eADF4(C16) show potential drug delivery systems. Tuning the colloidal properties suspensions represents a major prerequisite their use in pharmaceutical formulations. In this study we determined surface concerning inter-particle interactions by means electrophoretic mobility and direct force measurements. The charge was function ionic strength pH, respectively. resulting...

Hydrogels have many applications in biomedical surface modification and tissue engineering. However, the structuring of hydrogels after their formation represents still a major challenge, particular due to softness. Here, novel approach is presented that based on combination atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanofluidics, also referred as FluidFM technology. Its applicability demonstrated for supramolecular hydrogel films are prepared from low‐molecular weight hydrogelators, such derivates...

Abstract Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is an analytical technique that increasingly utilized to determine interaction forces on the colloidal and cellular level. Fluidic microscopy, also called FluidFM, became a vital tool for biomedical applications. FluidFM combines AFM nanofluidics by means of microchanneled cantilever bears aperture instead tip at its end. Thereby, single colloids or cells can be aspirated immobilized cantilever, example, adhesion forces. To allow quantitative...

The colloidal probe technique, which is based on micrometer-sized particles that are attached to the end of a cantilever, revolutionized direct force measurements by atomic microscopy (AFM). Its major advantages defined interaction geometry and high sensitivity. Here, we present versatile simple approach for preparing spherical electrodes in micrometer range an otherwise insulated AFM cantilever. Thereby, it becomes possible combine potentiostatic control various types electrode materials....

Abstract The combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) with nanofluidics, also referred to as FluidFM, has facilitated new applications in scanning ion conductance microscopy, direct measurements, lithography, or controlled nanoparticle deposition. An essential element this type AFMs is its cantilever, which bears an internal micro-channel a defined aperture at the end. Here, we present approach for in-situ characterization micro-channels, non-destructive and based on electrochemical...

Abstract Existing approaches to robotic manipulation often rely on external mechanical devices, such as hydraulic and pneumatic devices or grippers. Both types of can be adapted microrobots only with difficulties for nanorobots not all. Here, we present a fundamentally different approach that is based tuning the acting surface forces themselves rather than applying by Tuning achieved electrochemical control an electrode’s diffuse layer. Such grippers integrated directly into atomic force...

Abstract Clays are not only ubiquitous in nature, but they also used huge quantities a broad range of industrial applications, such as thixotropic drilling fluids, ore pelletizers, waste disposal sealants, or fillers polymer nanocomposites. In order to model environmental processes design new materials on rational base, it is prime importance determine and possibly modify the interfacial properties clay platelets at solid/electrolyte interface. this context, fundamental question rises how...

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is a versatile scanning probe technique that allows monitoring of plethora reactions on highly resolved local scale. SECM in combination with atomic force (AFM) particularly well suited to acquire data correlated sample topography, elasticity, and adhesion, respectively. The resolution achievable depends critically the properties acting as an sensor, i.e., working electrode, which scanned over sample. Hence, development probes received much...

The controlled electrochemical deposition of hydrogels from low-molecular weight hydrogelators (LMWHGs) allows for the defined formation thin films on electrodes. Here, fibrillar networks consisting N,N',N″-tris(4-carboxyphenylene)-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamide (BTA) onto ultraflat gold electrodes has been studied. This process, also termed electrogelation, is based a local change in pH due to electrolysis water at electrode. protonation BTA sodium salt leads self-assembly into supramolecular...

Basic cobalt carbonate sheets are deposited by gas diffusion at the air/solution interface mediated PEI. Strain-induced self-rolling yields nanostructured spirals, which can be pseudomorphically converted into Co₃O₄ with mesoscale channels.

<p>Plastic pollution in the marine and terrestrial environments is ubiquitous a widespread problem. While occurrence of plastics microplastics, as well their effects on freshwater organisms, have already been investigated numerous studies, so far only little attention has paid to fate, transport, transformation processes microplastics environment. In this work, aggregation behavior polystyrene (PS) presence ferrihydrite, natural inorganic colloid, was studied using zeta...