Imaging of self-assembled tubulin polymorphs used as metallization templates

Tubulin, a protein isolated from eukaryotic cells, is able to self-assemble in vitro under well-defined chemical conditions into highly ordered polymorphic suprastructures such as tubules, rings or sheets. Here we report about the imaging and the morphological appearance of such tubulin assemblies utilized as templates for the deposition of metal nanoparticles or continuous metallization. The structural imaging and analyzing tools like field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with respect to different electron detectors (Inlens-SE, BSE, TE) are addressed. An EDX-unit is applied for the verification of the deposited metals. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) in tapping-mode (TM) is adopted for 3D-rendering and morphological measurements (height). Tip-surface interactions, the influence of fixation and cantilever-types are considered. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is applied to visualize deposited nanoparticles.