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Investigation of the Elasticity of Polymer Nanoparticle by Vibrating Scanning Polarization Force Microscopy |
| ZHANG Li-Juan1,2;WANG Hua-Bin1,2 |
| 1Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800
2Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049 |
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| Cite this article: |
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ZHANG Li-Juan, WANG Hua-Bin 2006 Chin. Phys. Lett. 23 2315-2318 |
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Abstract The elasticity of an individual polymer nanoparticle may be greatly different from that of the bulk one. Understanding the properties of individual particles such as elasticity and deformation under external forces is of great importance in controlling the final structures and functions of bulk materials. We study the compression properties of single polyethylenimine (PEI) particles using vibrating scanning polarization force microscopy. By controllably imaging PEI particles at different vibration amplitude set-point values, it is demonstrated that we can compress the single PEI nanoparticle with an atomic force microscopy tip in different loads. Based on the force--height and force-strain curves obtained, Young’s moduli of PEI (5--160MPa) in three force regions are estimated according to the Hertz model. The results indicate that PEI has excellent elasticity, which may contribute to its high efficiency as vectors in gene transfection.
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| Keywords:
87.64.Dz
61.41.+e
62.20.-x
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Published: 01 August 2006
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| PACS: |
87.64.Dz
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(Scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy)
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61.41.+e
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(Polymers, elastomers, and plastics)
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62.20.-x
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(Mechanical properties of solids)
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