Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality

Published on: March 11, 2022

Quantitative methods based on twisted nematic liquid crystals for mapping surfaces patterned with bio/chemical

Aaron M Lowe¹, Paul J Bertics, Nicholas L Abbott

¹Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.

Analytical Chemistry

|March 22, 2008

Summary

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Probing NO<sub>2</sub> Reactivity on Coinage Metal Surfaces through Liquid Crystal Orientational Responses.

The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces·2026

Same author

Validation of <i>De Novo</i> Designs of Solid-Binding Peptides.

ACS central science·2026

Same author

Interplay of Noncovalent Interactions in Phase Separation Mediated by Tyrosine-Rich and Arginine-Rich Polypeptides.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Controlled propagation of soliton bullets in an engineered strain field.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Liquid crystal-driven interfacial ordering of colloidal microplastics: Advancing microplastic characterization below the macroscale.

Science advances·2025

Same author

Polymer-Wrapped Oil Droplets and Polymer Particles with Complex Curvilinear Polyhedral Geometries by Surfactant-Driven Elastocapillary Buckling of Polymer Capsules.

Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society·2025

We developed simple optical imaging methods to map chemical changes on surfaces using twisted nematic liquid crystals (LCs). These techniques reveal surface features and interactions with high spatial resolution for analytic device preparation.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Surface Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry

Background:

Surface-based assays are crucial for analytic devices.
Monitoring chemical transformations on surfaces is essential for assay development.
Existing methods for surface analysis can be limited in resolution or interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate simple optical imaging methods for analyzing bio/chemically patterned surfaces.
To create easily interpretable maps of surface chemical transformations.
To quantify surface interactions with high spatial resolution.

Main Methods:

Acquisition of multiple optical images of twisted nematic liquid crystal (LC) films on patterned surfaces.
Analysis of image stacks to generate spatial maps of LC twist angles.

More Related Videos

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

Published on: October 31, 2019

Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy

Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy

Published on: January 29, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality

Published on: March 11, 2022

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

High-Contrast and Fast Photorheological Switching of a Twist-Bend Nematic Liquid Crystal

Published on: October 31, 2019

Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy

Control of Cell Adhesion using Hydrogel Patterning Techniques for Applications in Traction Force Microscopy

Published on: January 29, 2022

Application of methods to map thiol displacement, coadsorption, and antibody patterns on gold films.

Main Results:

The developed methods provide easily interpreted maps of surface chemical transformations.
Twist angle maps reveal surface features not visible in single images.
Quantification of LC-surface interaction energy with <10 micrometer spatial resolution was achieved.

Conclusions:

The optical imaging methods offer a nondestructive way to monitor and validate surface chemical modifications.
These techniques are applicable to various surface-based analytic technologies.
The methods enhance the understanding and development of surface functionalization for assays.