Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to image interfacial films
of bovine serum albumen and beta-casein produced at hexadecane/water
and air/water interfaces, respectively. Planar oil/water and air/water
interfaces have been used to model protein films such as may form in
emulsions and foams. The protein films were picked up onto mica sheets
and imaged under butanol. Both systems studied yielded homogeneous fl
at networks which could be imaged at molecular resolution and which de
monstrate the potential for using AFM to probe interfacial networks. (
C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.