Protocol for live imaging of intracellular nanoscale structures using atomic force microscopy with nanoneedle probes.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is capable of nanoscale imaging but has so far only been used on cell surfaces when applied to a living cell. Here, we describe a step-by-step protocol for nanoendoscopy-AFM, which enables the imaging of nanoscale structures inside living cells. The protocol consists of cell staining, fabrication of the nanoneedle probes, observation inside living cells using 2D and 3D nanoendoscopy-AFM, and visualization of the 3D data.

Three host peculiarities of a cycloalkane-based micelle toward large metal-complex guests.

Linear alkanes are essential building blocks for natural and artificial assemblies in water. As compared with typical, linear alkane-based micelles and recent aromatic micelles, we herein develop a cycloalkane-based micelle, consisting of bent amphiphiles with two cyclohexyl frameworks. This uncommon type of micelle, with a spherical core diameter of ~ 2 nm, forms in water in a spontaneous and quantitative manner.

Anisotropic Contraction of a Polyaromatic Capsule and Its Cavity-Induced Compression Effect.

Anisotropic contraction of a spherical polyaromatic capsule was demonstrated through simple -to- modification of the bent polyaromatic ligands. The resultant capsule, composed of two metal ions and four -substituted ligands, possesses a spheroidal cavity (1.1 nm × 1.

A Peanut-Shaped Polyaromatic Capsule: Solvent-Dependent Transformation and Electronic Properties of a Non-Contacted Fullerene Dimer.

Synthesis of molecular containers capable of incorporating multiple fullerenes remains challenging. Reported here is that room-temperature mixing of metal ions with W-shaped bispyridine ligands featuring polyaromatic panels results in the quantitative formation of a peanut-shaped M L capsule. The capsule reversibly converts into two molecules of an ML double tube in response to changes in the solvent.