| In this thesis, new methods are developed to fabricate structures of proteins, nanoparticles and self-assembled monolayers, SAMs. A new approach using particle lithography is introduced to construct a thin film composed of arrays of nanostructures of proteins. AFM-based lithographies were used to precisely position nanoparticles within an n-alkanethiol SAM matrix, and the nanostructures were characterized in situ. Self-assembled multilayers were prepared by alternate deposition of 4,4′-dimercaptobiphenyl (DMBP) and copper (II) ions onto planar Au(111) substrates. The multilayers were characterized using high-resolution AFM.; A high throughput lithographic method was successfully developed to produce arrays of protein nanostructures, using bovine serum albumin (BSA), rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG), and monodisperse latex spheres. The resulting protein patterns can be used for AFM studies of the selective binding of antibodies. The applicability of this method was tested on mica (0001) and Au(111) surfaces. To minimize denaturation of fragile biomolecules, the liquid imaging media provides a well-controlled, sustainable buffer environment under ambient conditions. The patterned proteins retain the ability to bind antibodies, as evidenced by AFM experiments within a liquid cell.; Two AFM-based lithographic techniques were developed to precisely position gold nanoparticles, using nanoshaving and NanoPen Reader and Writer, NPRW. The nanoparticles have a mixed monolayer shell comprised of alkanethiol and alkanedithiol molecules, and therefore attach directly to a bare gold surface via sulfur-gold chemisorption. Rectangular, square, and line nanopatterns with dimensions ranging from 20 to 300 nm were generated and characterized using in situ AFM.; Self-assembled multilayers were prepared by alternate deposition of DMBP and copper (II) ions onto planar Au(111) substrates. AFM studies provided details about the surface morphology and thickness via nanoshaving and nanografting techniques. Based on a combination of analytical techniques, including ellipsometry, external reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ERFTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and AFM, it is proposed that the DMBP multilayer system formed by interlayer disulfide linkages. |
