Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy-Surface Plasmon Resonance

A number of methods are available for the characterization and examination of SAMs as well as for the observation of the reactions with the immobilized biomolecules. Only some of these methods are mentioned briefly here. These include surface plasmon resonance (SPR) [46], quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) [47,48], ellipsometry [12,49], contact angle measurement [50], infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) [51,52], Raman spectroscopy [53], scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) [54], atomic force microscopy (AFM) [55,56], sum frequency spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) [57, 58], surface acoustic wave and acoustic plate mode devices, confocal imaging and optical microscopy, low-angle X-ray reflectometry, electrochemical methods [59] and Raster electron microscopy [60]. 

Various planar membrane models have been developed, either for fundamental studies or for translational applications monolayers at the air-water interface, freestanding films in solution, solid supported membranes, and membranes on a porous solid support. Planar biomimetic membranes based on amphiphilic block copolymers are important artificial systems often used to mimic natural membranes. Their advantages, compared to artificial lipid membranes, are their improved stability and the possibility of chemically tailoring their structures. The simplest model of such a planar membrane is a monolayer at the air-water interface, formed when amphiphilic molecules are spread on water. As cell membrane models, it is more common to use free-standing membranes in which both sides of the membrane are accessible to water or buffer, and thus a bilayer is formed. The disadvantage of these two membrane models is the lack of stability, which can be overcome by the development of a solid supported membrane model. Characterization of such planar membranes can be challenging and several techniques, such as AFM, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, confocal laser scan microscopy (CLSM), electrophoretic mobility, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), contact angle, ellipsometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), patch clamp, or X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) have been used to characterize their... 

Szunerits, S., Knorr, N., Calemczuk, R., Livache, T., New approach to writing and simultaneous reading of micropattems Combining surface plasmon resonance imaging with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Langmuir 2004, 20, 9236-9241. 

Xiang, J., Guo, J., Zhou, R, Scanning electrochemical microscopy combined with surface plasmon resonance Studies of localized film thickness variations and molecular conformation changes. Anal. Chem. 

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