M. Ludwig et al., CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ADHESION FORCE BETWEEN AVIDIN-FUNCTIONALIZED AFM TIPS AND BIOTINYLATED AGAROSE BEADS, Microscopy microanalysis microstructures, 5(4-6), 1994, pp. 321-328
With AFM related techniques we investigated the specific interaction b
etween avidin and biotin. The contact rupture force (adhesion) between
avidin functionalized tips and biotin, which was covalently linked to
agarose beads, was measured and characterized. A comprehensive study
of the physical properties of the receptor-functionalized tips and the
biotin-labeled agarose bead was carried out. The functional stability
of the avidin coated tip persisted for several hundred force scan mea
surements. The strength of the interaction between the tip and the bea
d was found to depend on the force applied by the AFM tip on the polym
er beads. By regulating the contact via indentation, the interaction c
an vary from one to as much as 100 biotin-avidin pairs. When surface i
nteraction is minimized, quantized interaction between avidin and biot
in was observed. This approach induces minimal stress on the interacti
ng molecules.