# SINGLE MOLECULAR NANOSCOPIC IMAGING ON LIVING CELLS

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · 2021 · $198,250

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
In this research, we will demonstrate a proof of concept super-resolution circular dichroism nanoscopy imaging
tool that can map the spectrum of cell membranes at single molecule level. We will capitalize on the high
spatial resolution of scanning probe technique and strongly localized field phenomena enhanced by plasmonic
chiral metamaterials. We have previously separately demonstrated a planar chiral metamaterial sensor that
can measure circular dichroism of chiral molecules with seven orders of magnitude enhancement; and an
optical force nanoscopy tool to detect chirality related optical forces from nano-specimen with nanometer
spatial resolution. Building upon these previous findings, but very different from the prior work, in this proposal
we will fabricate a plasmonic metamaterial on an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip that can locally enhance
the chiral optical field-associated forces. This metamaterial-AFM tip can approach the cell membrane in the
near field, where the strong optical forces enhanced by the metamaterial interact strongly with the cell
membrane molecules. The change of these forces will be detected again by the AFM tip where circular
dichroism of the targeting molecules can be de-convoluted. In the long term, this new tool can enable
measurements of dynamic conformational changes of membrane molecules such as ion channels, further our
understanding of fundamental molecular mechanisms at the single molecular level on living cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10217211
- **Project number:** 5R21GM139022-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- **Principal Investigator:** Yang Zhao
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $198,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10217211

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10217211, SINGLE MOLECULAR NANOSCOPIC IMAGING ON LIVING CELLS (5R21GM139022-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10217211. Licensed CC0.

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