Visualization of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes using atomic force microscopy in solution.

We have used atomic force microscopy to study the morphology of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes adsorbed on surfaces. The polyelectrolytes consisted of polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) chains made with three charge densities: 32%, 67%, and 92%. They were adsorbed on two types of surfaces: mica, and phospholipid bilayers made of mixed neutral and cationic lipids.