Biomedical subjects

Vincent Dupres

Publications and source records attributed to Vincent Dupres.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Probing molecular recognition sites on biosurfaces using AFM.

Knowledge of the molecular forces that drive receptor-ligand interactions is a key to gain a detailed understanding of cell adhesion events and to develop novel applications in biomaterials science. Until recently, there was no tool available for analyzing and mapping these forces on complex biosurfaces like cell surfaces. During the past decade, however, single-molecule atomic force microscopy (AFM) has opened exciting new opportunities for detecting and localizing molecular recognition forces on artificial biosurfaces and on living cells. In this review, we describe the general principles of the AFM technique, present procedures commonly used to prepare samples and tips, and discuss a number of applications that are relevant to the field of biomaterials.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Wetting and electrical properties of the human hair surface: delipidation observed at the nanoscale.

The electrostatic properties and the wetting behaviour of the human hair surface at the nanometric scale have been investigated by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface potential imaging was used to determine the electrostatic properties while non-contact mode AFM was used to investigate the wetting properties of a test liquid, squalane. We have studied natural hair and hair in which different covalently (18-methyleicosanoic acid) and non-covalently bound fatty acids present at the cuticle surface were selectively extracted. This study shows how the removal of these acids causes various profound changes in hair wettability at the cuticle scale.

Electrochemistry↗

PubMed2006

Interfacial assembly of a phospholipid Langmuir monolayer by electrodeposited silver colloids.

Two-dimensional nanostructured silver films were electrodeposited at the surface of a silver nitrate subphase coated by a negatively charged dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) Langmuir monolayer. The modifications of the phospholipid interfacial organization generated by the growing colloidal silver film were investigated using surface pressure-time isotherms and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction experiments (GIXD). A decrease in the initial surface pressure of the DMPG monolayer is observed outside of the growing silver film, followed by a stabilization of the surface pressure when the radius of the metallic layer reaches its plateau value. This behavior is attributed to the compression of the DMPG molecules above the silver film and to the correlated relaxation and expansion of those outside the silver film area as recorded by a Wilhelmy pressure sensor. GIXD experiments further evidenced the contraction of the phospholipid monolayer above the electrochemically growing films. Indeed, the diffraction spectra show a shift in the peak position toward higher values of the in-plane component of the wave-vector transfer, indicating a closer packing of the DMPG alkyl chains. This is also in agreement with the observed loss of the chain tilt angle, suggesting that the colloidal silver film induces interfacial structuring of the DMPG monolayer.

Colloids↗

PubMed2006

Ethambutol-induced alterations in Mycobacterium bovis BCG imaged by atomic force microscopy.

Progress in understanding the structure-function relationships of the mycobacterial cell wall has been hampered by its complex architecture as well as by the lack of sensitive, high-resolution probing techniques. For the first time, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to image the surface topography of hydrated Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette Guérin cells and to investigate the influence of the antimycobacterial drug ethambutol on the cell wall architecture. While untreated cells showed a very smooth and homogeneous surface morphology, incubation of cells in the presence of ethambutol caused dramatic changes of the fine surface structure. At 4 micro g mL(-1), the drug created concentric striations at the cell surface and disrupted a approximately 8 nm thick cell wall layer, attributed to the outer electron-opaque layer usually seen by electron microscopy, while at 10 micro g mL(-1) an underlying approximately 12 nm thick layer reflecting the thick electron-transparent layer was also altered. These noninvasive ultrastructural investigations provide novel information on the macromolecular architecture of the mycobacterial envelope as well as into the destructuring effects of ethambutol.

Antitubercular Agents↗

PubMed2005

Antigen binding forces of single antilysozyme Fv fragments explored by atomic force microscopy.

We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to explore the antigen binding forces of individual Fv fragments of antilysozyme antibodies (Fv). To detect single molecular recognition events, genetically engineered histidine-tagged Fv fragments were coupled onto AFM tips modified with mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of nitrilotriacetic acid- and tri(ethylene glycol)-terminated alkanethiols while lysozyme (Lyso) was covalently immobilized onto mixed SAMs of carboxyl- and hydroxyl-terminated alkanethiols. The quality of the functionalization procedure was validated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (surface chemical composition), AFM imaging (surface morphology in aqueous solution), and surface plasmon resonance (SPR, specific binding in aqueous solution). AFM force-distance curves recorded at a loading rate of 5000 pN/s between Fv- and Lyso-modified surfaces yielded a distribution of unbinding forces composed of integer multiples of an elementary force quantum of approximately 50 pN that we attribute to the rupture of a single antibody-antigen pair. Injection of a solution containing free Lyso caused a dramatic reduction of adhesion probability, indicating that the measured 50 pN unbinding forces are due to the specific antibody-antigen interaction. To investigate the dynamics of the interaction, force-distance curves were recorded at various loading rates. Plots of unbinding force vs log(loading rate) revealed two distinct linear regimes with ascending slopes, indicating multiple barriers were present in the energy landscape. The kinetic off-rate constant of dissociation (k(off) approximately = 1 x 10(-3) s(-1)) obtained by extrapolating the data of the low-strength regime to zero force was in the range of the k(off) estimated by SPR.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

PubMed2005

Nanoscale mapping and functional analysis of individual adhesins on living bacteria.

Although much progress has been made in the identification and characterization of adhesins borne by pathogenic bacteria, the molecular details underlying their interaction with host receptors remain largely unknown owing to the lack of appropriate probing techniques. Here we report a method, based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) with tips bearing biologically active molecules, for measuring the specific binding forces of individual adhesins and for mapping their distribution on the surface of living bacteria. First, we determined the adhesion forces between the heparin-binding haemagglutinin adhesin (HBHA) produced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and heparin, used as a model sulphated glycoconjugate receptor. Both the adhesion frequency and adhesion force increased with contact time, indicating that the HBHA-heparin complex is formed via multiple intermolecular bridges. We then mapped the distribution of single HBHA molecules on the surface of living mycobacteria and found that the adhesin is not randomly distributed over the mycobacterial surface, but concentrated into nanodomains.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

PubMed2004

Atomic force microscopy imaging of hair: correlations between surface potential and wetting at the nanometer scale.

We report investigations of hair surface potential under wetting at the nanometric scale by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface potential imaging was used to characterize the electrostatic properties of the hair samples. We found that the surface potential noticeably increases along the edges of the cuticles. These results are correlated with wetting behavior of different liquids performed using AFM in noncontact mode.

Hair↗