Anti-Brownian traps for studies on single molecules

Methods in Enzymology
Alexander P Fields, Adam E Cohen

Abstract

Until recently, Brownian motion was seen as an immutable feature of small particles in room-temperature liquids. Molecules, viruses, organelles, and small cells jiggle incessantly due to countless collisions with thermally agitated molecules of solvent. Einstein showed in 1905 that this motion is intimately linked to the tendency of every system to relax toward thermal equilibrium. In recent years, we and others have realized that Brownian motion is not as inescapable as one might think. By tracking the motion of a small particle and applying correction forces to the particle or to the measurement apparatus, one can largely suppress the Brownian motion of particles as small as a few nanometers in diameter, in aqueous solution at room temperature. This new ability to stabilize single molecules has led to a host of studies on topics ranging from the conformational dynamics of DNA to the optical properties of metal nanoparticles. In this review, we outline the physical principles behind suppression of Brownian motion. We discuss the relative merits of several systems that have been implemented. We give examples of studies performed with our anti-Brownian Electrokinetic trap (ABEL trap) as well as other anti-Brownian traps, and we ...Continue Reading

Citations

May 24, 2012·Accounts of Chemical Research·Quan WangW E Moerner
Sep 21, 2011·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Samuel BockenhauerW E Moerner
May 13, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Alexander P Fields, Adam E Cohen
Oct 6, 2012·Optics Express·Alexander P Fields, Adam E Cohen
Mar 24, 2018·European Biophysics Journal : EBJ·Petra Schwille
Nov 10, 2012·Soft Matter·Danielle J MaiCharles M Schroeder
Sep 5, 2013·Chemical Reviews·Alireza MashaghiSander J Tans

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