DNA Origami Fiducial for Accurate 3D Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging

Area of Science:

• Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
• Biophysics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is crucial for high-resolution imaging of nanoscale structures.
• AFM image quality is limited by tip convolution artifacts, necessitating accurate tip characterization.
• Existing methods for tip reconstruction have limitations in precision and applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reliable fiducial marker for accurate atomic force microscopy tip reconstruction.
• To enhance the precision and accuracy of AFM imaging, particularly for lateral dimensions.
• To provide a versatile tool for tip characterization applicable to diverse samples.

Main Methods:

• Design and fabrication of a 3D DNA origami structure with sharp, multi-height features.
• Utilizing the DNA origami structure as a fiducial for scanning probe microscopy tip reconstruction.
• Developing algorithms for tip apex and shape determination using the fiducial.
• Comparing DNA origami fiducial performance against polycrystalline samples.

Main Results:

• The 3D DNA origami fiducial enables reliable tip reconstruction from a small number of features.
• The fiducial demonstrates stability across a wide range of experimental conditions.
• Achieved higher precision in tip apex determination compared to polycrystalline samples.
• Significantly improved accuracy in lateral dimension measurements from AFM images.

Conclusions:

• 3D DNA origami structures are effective fiducials for precise AFM tip reconstruction and image correction.
• This approach offers a significant advancement for accurate nanoscale imaging in various scientific fields.
• The DNA origami fiducial is readily integrated with biological and non-biological samples.