Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Determination of surface topography of biological specimens at high resolution by scanning tunnelling microscopy

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

Although techniques are available for the determination of the three-dimensional structure of biological specimens, for example scanning electron microscopy, they all have some serious drawback, such as low resolution, the requirement for crystals or for the sample to be analysed in a high vacuum. In an attempt to develop a technique for high-resolution three-dimensional structure analysis of non-crystalline biological material, we have tested the applicability of scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), a method that has been used successfully in the analysis of metal and semiconductor surface structures1–3. We report here that scanning tunnelling electron microscopy can be used to determine the surface topography of biological specimens at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, giving a vertical resolution of the order of 1 Å. Our results show that quantum mechanical tunnelling of electrons through biological material is possible provided that the specimen is deposited on a conducting surface.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Binnig, G., Rohrer, H., Gerber, Ch. & Weible, E. Appl. Phys. Lett. 40, 178–180 (1982).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Binnig, G. & Rohrer, H. (eds) Proc. 6th gen. Conf. Eur. Phys. Soc. (Prague, 1984).

  3. Binnig, G., Rohrer, H., Gerber, Ch. & Weibel, E. Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 120–123 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. García, N., Ocal, C. & Flóres, F. Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 2002–2005 (1983).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Anderson, D. L., Hickman, D. D. & Reilly, B. E. J. Bact. 91, 2081–2089 (1966).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Carrascosa, J. L., Viñuela, E., García, N. & Santisteban, A. J. molec. Biol. 154, 311–324 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kellenberger, E., Häner, M. & Wurtz, M. Ultramicroscopy 9, 139–150 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ibañez, C., García, J. A., Carrascosa, J. L. & Salas, M. Nucleic Acids Res. 12, 2351–2365 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Carrascosa, J. L., Carazo, J. M., Ibañez, C. & Santisteban, A. Virology (in the press).

  10. Stoll, E. & Schnedier, T. Solid St. Commun. 11, 1327–1329 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Física Fundamental, C-III, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    A. M. Baró, R. Miranda, J. Alamán & N. García

  2. Centro de Biología Molecular (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    J. L. Carrascosa

  3. IBM Zurich Research Laboratory, 8803, Rüschlikon, Switzerland

    G. Binnig, H. Rohrer & Ch. Gerber

Authors
  1. A. M. Baró
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Miranda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Alamán
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. G. Binnig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. H. Rohrer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ch. Gerber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. J. L. Carrascosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Baró, A., Miranda, R., Alamán, J. et al. Determination of surface topography of biological specimens at high resolution by scanning tunnelling microscopy. Nature 315, 253–254 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/315253a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/315253a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation