Contact Information
Department of Physics525 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN
47907-2036
Map and Directions
Telephone:
(765) 494-2970
Fax:
(765) 494-0706
Saw-Wai Hla
Ohio University
Molecular Resolution Imaging and Manipulation of Individual Proteins
Monday January 31, 2011
4:00pm PHYS 203
Refreshments are served at 3:45 p.m. in Physics room 203
Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) manipulation of single atoms and molecules on surfaces allow construction of novel quantum structures on an atom-by-atom basis and demonstration of single molecule devices on a one molecule at-a-time basis. STM is not only an instrument used to ‘see’ individual atoms by means of imaging, but also a tool used to ‘touch’ and ‘take’ atoms/molecules or to ‘hear’ their vibration by manipulations. Therefore, STM can be considered as the ‘eyes’, ‘hands’ and ‘ears’ of the scientists connecting our macroscopic world to the exciting atomic and nanoscopic world. We applied this nascent technique to biological molecules to test their integrity, and mechanical stability, and to probe their electronic properties with atomic or molecular precisions. The presentation will include our recent works on manipulation of Amyloid Precursor Protein molecules, and formation of two dimensional APP fragment films on surfaces. The contributions and future role of single molecule study to the nano- medicine research will be briefly discussed.