Super-resolution-AFM R&D Division

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”Super-resolution AFM R&D Division"n

lipid-ion network

mica-water interface

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been widely used for biological research owing to its unique capability of imaging nanoscale structures at a solid/liquid interface. However, the spatial resolution of liquid-environment AFM had been inferior to that obtained in vacuum, until recently. Almost all the recent advances in vacuum-environment AFM, including atom manipulation, atom identification and subatomic-scale imaging, were achieved by frequency modulation AFM (FM-AFM). However, such atomic-scale experiments had never been successful in liquid. Recently, we have overcome this limitation by developing an ultra-low noise cantilever deflection sensor and made it possible to operate FM-AFM in liquid with true atomic resolution. This technical innovation enabled to visualize subnanometer-scale features of biological molecules (e.g., beta-sheets of amyloid fibrils and alpha-helices of tubulin molecules). Furthermore, the high force sensitivity and precise control of the vertical tip position in FM-AFM enabled us to visualize three-dimensional distribution of water molecules at a solid/liquid interface with subnanometer-scale resolution.

Ongoing Research: Our present research includes further development of liquid-environment FM-AFM and exploration of its possible applications in biology. The former includes improvement of the operation speed and development of a liquid-environment potential measurement technique while the latter includes studies on microtubles and lipid membranes. We also collaborate with several SPM companies world wide to promote the use of FM-AFM in various research fields.　

Selected Publications

N. Kobayashi, H. Asakawa, T. Fukuma, “Nanoscale potential measurements in liquid by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy”, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 81: 123705 (2010) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, “Water distribution at solid/liquid interfaces visualized by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy”, Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater. 11: 033003 (2010) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, Y. Ueda, S. Yoshioka, H. Asakawa, “Atomic-Scale Distribution of Water Molecules at the Mica-Water Interface Visualized by Three-Dimensional Scanning Force Microscopy”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104: 016101 (2010) (Abstract)

H. Asakawa and T. Fukuma, “Spurious-free cantilever excitation in liquid by piezoactuator with flexure drive mechanism”, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80: 103703 (2009) (Abstract)

H. Yamada, K. Kobayashi, T. Fukuma, Y. Hirata, T. Kajita and K. Matsushige, “Molecular Resolution Imaging of Protein Molecules in Liquid Using Frequency Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy”, Appl. Phys. Express 2: 095007 (2009) (Abstract)

Y. Mitani, M. Kubo, K. Muramoto, and T. Fukuma, “Wideband digital frequency detector with subtraction-based phase comparator for frequency modulation atomic force microscopy”, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80: 083705 (2009) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, “Subnanometer-Resolution Frequency Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy in Liquid for Biological Applications”, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 48: 08JA01 (2009) (Abstract)

H. Asakawa, T. Fukuma, “The molecular-scale arrangement and mechanical strength of phospholipid/cholesterol mixed bilayers investigated by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy in liquid”, Nanotechnology 20: 264008 (2009) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, “Wideband low-noise optical beam deflection sensor with photothermal excitation for liquid-environment atomic force microscopy”, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80: 023707 (2009) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, “Instrumentation and Biological Applications of High-Resolution Frequency Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy in Liquid”, J. Nano Res. 4: 1-10 (2008) (Abstract)

T. Ando, T. Uchihashi, T. Fukuma, “High-speed atomic force microscopy for nano-visualization of dynamic biomolecular processes”, Prog. Surf. Sci. 83: 337-437 (2008) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, A. S. Mostaert, L. C. Serpell, S. P. Jarvis, “Revealing molecular-level surface structure of amyloid fibrils in liquid by means of frequency modulation atomic force microscopy”, Nanotechnology 19: 384010 (2008) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, Y. Okazaki, N. Kodera, T.Uchihashi, T.Ando, “High resonance frequency force microscope scanner using inertia balance support”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 92: 243119 (2008) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, M. J. Higgins, S. P. Jarvis, “Direct imaging of lipid-ion network formation under physiological conditions by frequency modulation atomic force microscopy”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98: 106101 (2007) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, M. J. Higgins, S. P. Jarvis, “Direct Imaging of Individual Intrinsic Hydration Layers on Lipid Bilayers at Angstrom Resolution”, Biophys. J. 92: 3603-3609 (2007) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, J. Kilpatrick, S. P. Jarvis, “Phase modulation atomic force microscope with true atomic resolution”, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77: 123703(2006) (Abstract)

A. S. Mostaert, M. J. Higgins, T. Fukuma, F. Rindi, S. P. Jarvis, “Nanoscale Mechanical Characterization of Amyloid Fibrils Discovered in a Natural Adhesive”, J. Biol. Phys. 32: 393-401(2006) (Abstract)

M. J. Higgins, M. Polcik, T. Fukuma, J. E. Sader, Y. Nakayama and S. P. Jarvis, “Structured Water Layers Adjacent to Biological Membranes”, Biophys. J. 91: 2532-2542 (2006) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, A. S. Mostaert and S. P. Jarvis, “Explanation for the mechanical strength of amyloid fibrils”, Tribology Lett. 22: 233-237 (2006) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma and S. P. Jarvis, “Development of Liquid Environment Frequency Modulation Atomic Force Microscope with Low Noise Deflection Sensor for Cantilevers of Various Dimensions”, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77: 043701 (2006) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, M. Kimura, K. Kobayashi, K. Matsushige and H. Yamada, “Development of Low Noise Cantilever Deflection Sensor for Multienvironment Frequency-Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy”, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 76: 053704 (2005) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, K. Kobayashi, K. Matsushige and H. Yamada, “True Atomic Resolution in Liquid by Frequency-Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 87: 034101 (2005) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, K. Kobayashi, K. Matsushige and H. Yamada, “True Molecular Resolution in Liquid by Frequency-Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 86: 193108 (2005) (Abstract)

T. Fukuma, T. Ichii, K. Kobayashi, H. Yamada and K. Matsushige, “True-Molecular Resolution Imaging by Frequency Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy in Various Environments”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 86: 034103 (2005) (Abstract)