Imaging soft matter with the atomic force microscope: Cubosomes and hexosomes

The atomic force microscope has been used to obtain images of colloidal dis persions of liquid crystal phases of cubic and hexagonal structures in wate r. Particle dimensions are consistent with dynamic light scattering and cry o-TEM data. The images we present in this work demonstrate the potential ap plication of atomic force microscopy in revealing the morphology and struct ure of very soft matter in situ. This implies being able to detect possible structural modifications of the liquid crystalline phase due to in situ ad dition of enzymes, salts, polymers, etc. This kind of observation is not po ssible with other conventional high-resolution techniques.