Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
  • G01N21/17—Systems in which incident light is modified in accordance with the properties of the material investigated
  • G01N21/21—Polarisation-affecting properties

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of observation and analysis of nanometric characteristics using an optical component and a polarized light observation system. It is known in the state of the art technology to prepare a sample support blade having index layers meeting specific criteria, as proposed in FR2818376 and FR2841339 patents. Also known in the state of the art US5631171 patent describes a device for the observation of nanometer thickness differences, by the analysis of the refraction of thin layers.
• the present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a solution for developing a broad spectrum of applications for the study of samples of which certain characteristics are not known, by an observation of their optical and physical characteristics.
• the invention relates, in its most general sense, to an optical component for the observation of a sample, comprising a substrate and at least one layer of complex index and of predetermined thickness, intended to show a high contrast of intensity. or color for optical path variations, reliefs, nanometric thicknesses and diameters when observed by reflection in incoherent light converging around the normal incidence under polarization quenching conditions characterized in that the upper index layer has specific surface properties giving it a selective affinity with respect to at least one characteristic of the sample.
• Said optical properties are the natural properties of the upper index layer or are obtained by physical, chemical, physicochemical, biochemical, biological modifications of the index layer.
• sample means an object whose characteristics are not known and are revealed by the direct observation of very small (nanometric) optical path variations whose lateral extension may also be very small (nanometric ), the nano adjective meaning that these lengths are measured reasonably in nanometers.
• optical component means an association of the substrate and at least one layer of complex index and of predetermined thickness having affinity variations.
• affinity means a capacity of the surface of the component to combine with an external agent having determined and known physical, chemical or biological characteristics.
• affinity variation means that the surface has affine zones corresponding to non-constant physical, chemical or biological characteristics.
• affinity zone means a surface element having a particular affinity, different from the affinity of the neighboring zones.
• the component according to the invention makes it possible to deduce from the optical observation characteristics corresponding to the affinity with a part or the whole of the surface of the optical component receiving the sample.
• said sample is observed in differential interference contrast
• said surface properties have affinity characteristics varying as a function of the coordinates on the surface of the component
• the optical characteristics of the component vary as a function of the coordinates of the zone considered on the surface of the component, the variations in the optical characteristics of the component and the variations in the surface properties are correlated, the said variations form a gradient in a direction at least optical component,
• said variations constitute a regular tiling of the surface
• said variations constitute a matrix network, -
• the component carries visible marks to identify and find a particular area.
• the surface of the optical component has affinity properties corresponding to non-constant physical, chemical or biological characteristics.
• affinity properties may consist of surface energy, surface charge, surface polarizability, selective porosity, physical affinities, physico-chemical affinities, capture and / or recognition sites, liquid film, presence of a solute, magnetic agents, surfactants, textures, chemical reactive groups, selective molecular traps, hydrophilic / hydrophobic patterns, millimetric, micrometric, nanometric patterns.
• the surface properties may consist of surface energy, surface charge, surface polarizability, selective porosity, physical affinities, physico-chemical affinities, capture and / or recognition sites, liquid film, presence of a solute, magnetic agents, surfactants, textures, chemical reactive groups, selective molecular traps, hydrophilic / hydrophobic patterns, millimetric, micrometric, nanometric patterns.
• - are the natural properties of the upper index layer, are obtained in one or more steps by chemical reaction of compounds with the surface of the index layer by a covalent chemical grafting or by electrostatic grafting of all molecular or macromolecular objects such as, polyelectrolytes, electrolytes, proteins, dendrimers, - are obtained by a physical modification of the index layer such as the application of a particle beam or an electromagnetic beam, a mechanical, acoustic, thermal action. , electric or magnetic, erosion, selective deposition, plasma treatment, metallization, pressure variation, application of a liquid jet, deposition of ink, fumes, powders, layers in liquid form , a solid contact,
• - are obtained by a physico-chemical modification in gaseous, liquid or solid phase of the index layer such as swelling, deflation, dissolution, polymerization, adsorption, wetting, capillarity, condensation, electrostatic effect, evaporation, crystallization, deposition, electroplating, electrochemistry, electropolymerization, demixing, self-assembly, dip-coating, spin-coating, micro-contact printing, transfer of Langmuir-Blodgett, in one or more stages by a combination of these modifications,
• - consist of a variation of the chemical nature of the surface, the composition of the surface, the roughness of the surface, the surface altitude, the reflection coefficient, a potential on the surface such that electrical, magnetic, electrostatic, zeta potential, electric charge density, variable electrostatic charge valence, hydrostatic pressure, osmotic pressure, linear or non-linear susceptibility (polarizability, light absorption coefficient, susceptibility magnetic, permeability, dielectric coefficient, Raman susceptibility, rotatory power, thermal conduction, electrical conduction, optical index, etc.), current density (electrical, thermal, ionic, hydrodynamic, etc.) or consist of anisotropy of any of these properties,
• - are obtained by application to the sample of an external field during all or part of the observation such as the thermal, light, electrical, magnetic field, electromagnetic, hydrodynamic, aerodynamic, exposure to a particular beam or environment, are obtained by the addition of a biologically active layer or by a biological or biochemical modification of the index layer or on the index layer by a fixation by adsorption, grafting or deposition of membrane structures in the form of monolayers of bilayers or multilayers, pure or charged with membrane objects, by bursting of vesicles or liposomes or extracts of cell membranes, by fixation of biological macromolecules, by direct protein binding (for example Bovine Serum Albumin) or by grafting amphipol-membrane protein complexes, by binding of ligands (for example by avidin-biotin combinations), by binding of antibodies or by antigens, by cell attachment, by lysis or by cell adhesion, by attachment of cellular components resulting from a cells by chromatin binding, chromosome fixation in all
• biologically active polymers such as polysaccharides, polylysine, polypyrole, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene glycol, - are obtained by any combination of different physical, chemical, physicochemical, biochemical, biological,
• micellar structures micellar structures, micromanipulation components, microfluidic components, organic complexes, inorganic complexes, organic-inorganic complexes, amoebae, fluorescent markers, steric markers, aggregates, clusters and clusters, condensates, condensation drops, colloids, colloidal particles, complexes etallics, pollutants, powders, fumes, gases, asbestos fibers, nanotubes, nanowires
• the association of said component with an observed sample constitutes an alternative or a coupling element to the tracing of the samples using radia-labeling, spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, infra-red, ultra-violet or visible spectroscopy, fluorescence, enzymatic labeling, mass spectrometry, piezoelectric detector, amperometric detector , surface acoustic wave detector, surface plasmon resonance, profilometry, near field microscopy, atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry.
• radia-labeling spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, infra-red, ultra-violet or visible spectroscopy, fluorescence, enzymatic labeling, mass spectrometry, piezoelectric detector, amperometric detector , surface acoustic wave detector, surface plasmon resonance, profilometry, near field microscopy, atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry.
• the optical component is fixed on the bottom of a Petri dish
• the invention also relates to a sample analysis method implementing an optical component according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one step of bringing the sample into contact with each other. studying with the selective affinity surface of said component, and at least one step of direct and real-time observation of the component thus prepared with equipment comprising an incoherent light source converging around the normal incidence, and an assembly allowing the observation of the sample in polarized light under extinction conditions, and possibly a step of recording the image thus observed.
• the method comprises an assembly formed by a crossed polarizer and analyzer located on either side of the optical component along the useful path of the light,
• the equipment comprises a polarization separator device such as a Wollaston biprism or a Nomarski device and in that the sample is observed in differential interference contrast, the device comprises a polychromatic light source, monochromatic, visible, partially visible or not visible,
• the method comprises: a step of identifying a particular zone of the image by virtue of the marks visible on the component, a step of analyzing the color and / or the intensity of the image as a function of time and / or positions along the surface and a comparison of these values with predetermined values,
• the equipment used must then include a spectrometer
• the method comprises a comparison step under the same conditions of observation of the color and / or intensity of the image as a function of time and / or positions along the surface and those of a sample reference whose characteristics are known,
• all or part of the bringing into contact is carried out by evaporation of the sample, all or part of the bringing into contact is carried out by immersion in liquid phase by washing,
• the bringing into contact comprises at least one rinsing, incubation or drying step
• the method also comprises one or more steps for preparing the sample and / or an incubation step and / or an immersion step and / or a rinsing step and / or a drying step and then a step of dry observation,
• the observations are made in immersion and the analysis consists in extracting the variations of intensity or signal at each point over time; the contacting and the observation are simultaneous,
• the contacting is a hybridization or adsorption or chemical reaction of a solute with the component, the mechanism being able to be governed by a Brownian diffusion or by a convection, that is to say a determined movement of the solute towards or along the surface caused by a hydrodynamic flow or an external electric, magnetic, thermal, luminous, etc.
• the method comprises a step of detection and / or recognition and / or analysis by using steric markers instead of fluorescent markers, said markers being themselves attached to an object capable of providing a recognition function.
• steric markers instead of fluorescent markers, said markers being themselves attached to an object capable of providing a recognition function.
• the diameter of these steric markers is less than 100 nanometers and preferably less than 50 nanometers, preferably less than 10 nanometers and preferably less than 5 nanometers.
• the method according to the invention makes it possible to work with steric markers smaller than in the other techniques.
• the nature of these steric markers is arbitrary. These steric markers may themselves have a recognition site and may be used to analyze an unknown sample on the surface directly or indirectly.
• the combination of the component with an observed sample constitutes an alternative or a coupling element to the tracing of the samples by means of radiolabelling techniques, spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, infra-red spectroscopy, ultraviolet or visible, fluorescence, enzymatic labeling, mass spectrometry, piezoelectric detector, amperometric detector, surface acoustic wave detector, surface plasmon resonance, profilometry, near-field microscopy, atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry,
• the combination of the component with an observed sample constitutes an alternative to the tracing of the samples using steric markers of larger dimensions or of imposed nature.
• the interaction of a target bearing a steric marker and the sample observed is an alternative to tracing the samples using steric markers of larger dimensions.
• the method comprises: a step of recognition and / or the selective and / or preferential attachment of objects of interest or predefined objects such as proteins, peptides, acids amino, antibodies, antigens, drugs, polysaccharides, lipids, liposomes, vesicles, toxins, metabolic products, synthetic molecules, aromatic molecules, fibers, filaments, DNA molecules, RNA, chromosomes, cells, cell extracts, bacteria, viruses, plots of a biochip, true and false hybrids of these plots, environment of these plots, true and false hybrids of this environment, micellar structures, micromanipulation components, microfluidic components, organic complexes, inorganic complexes, organic-inorganic complexes, amoebae, fluorescent markers, steric markers, aggregates, clusters and clusters, conden
• salt clusters whose formation depends on the incubation, washing, rinsing and / or drying or clusters of impurities or biological agents such as proteins or other macromolecules, or physical agents such as aggregates, or chemical agents such as reagents or reaction products or impurities or physico-chemical agents such as precipitates or components of a mixture preferably absorbed, or targets consisting of complementary steric objects such as metals or plastic, latex beads, gold or silica attached to a ligand such as a single or double-stranded DNA molecule or an antibody or antigen or protein or copolymer
• the step of forming physicochemical clusters may be a step of forming liquid drops spontaneously in contact with their vapor.
• the step of forming physicochemical clusters is for example a step of forming drops of water on the hydrophilic sites of a sample or a part of a sample such as a carbon nanotube, a DNA molecule , a biological organism, a chromosome or a protein.
• the optical component carrying the sample is placed along the optical path between a first optical system comprising a polarizer and a second optical system comprising an analyzer oriented in a position of extinction of the beam reflected by the component,
• the optical component carrying the sample is placed along the optical path between a first optical system comprising a polarizer and a quarter-wave plate and a second optical system comprising the same quarter-wave plate and an analyzer,
• the optical component carrying the sample is placed along the optical path between a first optical system comprising a polarizer and a separator element; polarizations such as a Wollaston biprism and a second optical system comprising the same polarization separator element and an analyzer,
• the optical component carrying the sample is placed between a first optical system comprising a polarizer, a biprism and a compensator, and a second optical system comprising a compensator, a biprism and an analyzer,
• At least one of the optical systems further comprises a quarter-wave plate, the analyzer of the second optical system and the polarizer of the first constitute only one and the same component,
• the separation between the two optical systems along the optical path, obtained by a semi-reflective device is located after the polarizer of the first system along the optical path or before the polarizer of the first system along the optical path, analyzer and the polarizer then forming only one element
• the sample observation equipment includes a lens, the optical component carrying the sample is observed by reflection on the upper surface (right microscope), the optical component carrying the sample is observed by reflection on the underside (inverted microscope).
• the invention finally relates to a sample analysis system comprising an observation device and an optical component carrying a sample to be analyzed, characterized in that said optical component consists of a substrate and at least one complex index layer and of predetermined thickness, intended to exhibit a high contrast of intensity or color for nanometric thicknesses when observed by reflection in incoherent light converging around the incidence normal under polarization quenching conditions, the upper index layer having specific surface properties conferring selective affinity on at least one characteristic of the sample.
• this analysis system comprises a differential interference contrast device.
• the observation device comprises: a polychromatic or monochromatic light source, a means for analyzing the color and / or the intensity of the image as a function of time and / or positions along the surface and a comparison of these values with predetermined values,
• a means of analyzing the curve of the intensity as a function of the wavelength of each point or part of the image for all the wavelengths present in the spectrum of the illumination means of intensity analysis of a monochromatic image or of a monochromatic filtering or projection of a colored image
• a first optical system comprising said polarizer and a second optical system comprising said analyzer, at least one of said optical systems further comprising a compensator, a first optical system comprising said polarizer and a second optical system comprising said analyzer, one at least one of said optical systems further comprising a lambda / 4 blade.
• the invention also relates to the following applications of the abovementioned process:
• microelectronic components masks, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), microelectronic and MEMS construction media, recording media (CD and DVD), flat screens,
• RNA DNA microarray
• chromosomes proteins, antigens, antibodies, cells, bacteria, viruses, etc.
• Example 1 General scheme of the reflection analysis system.
• the analysis system shown in FIG. 1 mainly comprises: a first optical system (10) comprising a polarizer (1) - a second optical system (20) comprising an analyzer (2)
• a partially reflective component (80) preferentially a lens (60) for imaging
• an output optic (50) for the observation preferentially an output optic (50) for the observation.
• the two optical systems (10, 20) are arranged on either side of the optical component (30) in the path of the light. They may have a common part (15).
• the light source is in the example described a polychromatic source. This characteristic is not, however, limiting.
• the lighting source may be for example a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, a mercury lamp, a sodium vapor lamp, a diode block, an incandescent lamp, a source of natural light, a discharge lamp, or any other source that is totally or partially incoherent.
• the system (40) may include condensation and / or focusing optics, an optical fiber, a diaphragm, or a plurality of elements as in Kohler illumination.
• the image of the source is preferably focused on the rear focal plane of the lens (60). Lighting is preferentially powerful.
• the light beam (4) is polarized in a first direction by the polarizer (1). In the example of the chosen assembly, the direction of this polarization is preferably perpendicular to the plane of the figure.
• the semitransparent mirror (80) sends the polarized light to the sample.
• Each point of the source illuminates the sample of a parallel light beam with a different direction.
• the source is wide so that the beam of light is convergent. After reflection on the sample, the beam of light goes back on itself and goes back through the lens.
• Part of this beam then passes through the semi-transparent mirror (80) to pass through the optical system (20), reduced in this example to an analyzer (2) oriented parallel to the plane of the figure.
• a real image of the sample is finally obtained either directly if the objective works at a finite distance or thanks to a focus optics if the objective works infinitely.
• This image is finally taken up by an eyepiece (not shown) for direct observation or captured by a camera or a camera (not shown) to be recorded.
• Figure 2A describes an optical component implemented by the invention.
• the optical component (30) has a substrate (31) and has three main layers:
• a second index layer (33) having index and thickness characteristics which are adapted according to the application and the associated affinity characteristics
• one or more selective affinity layers (34).
• the two layers (33, 34) have features that for most applications are not constant over the entire surface of the optical component.
• Variations in the index characteristics of the layer (33) and the affinity characteristics of the layer (34) are correlated to form on the component a plurality of partial areas having a pair of determined index and affinity characteristics.
• These partial areas form, for example, a matrix composed of elements having a circular shape, each element corresponding to a characteristic of index and a characteristic of associated specific affinity and different from those of the adjacent elements.
• Figure 2B shows the different prototypes of optical components according to the invention.
• Example 3 Images of a strand of DNA obtained with the optical component according to the invention.
• Part c shows the image of the same molecule reconstructing from a scan by an atomic force microscope (AFM) used as a reference technique.
• the thickness of the molecule given by the apparatus is 1.7 nm, which is in good correspondence with the theoretical diameter of the molecule which is 2 nm.
• Part b shows a new image of the same molecule obtained using the same microscope after the AFM study.
• the nanometric defects induced by the AFM scan draw a clearly visible square. Without prior optical identification, it is impossible to locate a specific object of a size as small as that of this molecule on a sample of a reasonable size (larger than a square millimeter).
• Example 4 Schematic of a membrane protein sensor for producing a protein membrane biochip.
• FIG. 4 represents an exemplary application for the production of a membrane protein biochip intended for observations in the air for the purpose of analysis of a mixture.
• the component (30) has a silicon substrate (31) and a layer of index 1.34 as well as selective affinity layers (34) consisting of 5 nm thick pads with irregular contours.
• the index layer is in silica airgel and has a thickness of 102.5 nm and a real index of 1.34.
• the observation is performed with an average numerical aperture goal of 30 degrees.
• the affinity layer (34) covering the surface is placed on an index layer (33) which can be formed of a strongly hydrophobic self-assembly monolayer (FIG. 4B), a hydrophilic film (FIG. a polymer cushion (FIG. 4D) or hybrid molecules grafted onto the surface (FIG. 4E).
• the pads are several tens of microns in diameter. These are disks formed of a bilayer membrane 5 nm thick which carries different receptors (35) for each pad, then capable of selectively trapping a ligand (36) present in a medium to be analyzed.
• the biological material consists of a lipid bilayer having membrane receptors (35) for capturing a ligand (36).
• the pads In contact with the middle, the pads each capture the complementary species of the receiver they carry. Each pad captures a small or very small number of objects, which may be protein or peptide partners such as antibodies or hormones. The reading is carried out after rinsing with interference contrast. Each object captured (nanometric) is reflected by the presence of a bright spot on a low light background. Objects can be counted easily.
• the analysis method according to the invention is particularly advantageous with respect to fluorescence or ellipsometry techniques practiced because the signal that it exploits at a point in the image is generated by a very small surface around the captured object, typically the square of the lateral resolution of the observation system that corresponds to the smallest observable surface, is significantly less than one square micron, unlike fluorescence or ellipsometry techniques that exploit a signal generated by a much larger light spot, greater than 100 square microns. Since the useful signal comes from the object in all cases and the noise or parasitic signal is best obtained in all cases from the smallest observable region, the signal-to-noise ratio is clearly improved during the implementation of the method of analysis according to the invention.
• the present invention thus makes it possible to recognize individual captured objects while the other mentioned techniques require the presence of a large number of identical objects in order to be able to detect them. This is a huge advantage because the objects sought in certain environments are very rare. Our technique is therefore preferable in all situations where captured objects are of nanometric dimensions or are attached to objects of nanometric dimensions.
• Figure 4F shows a supported bilayer observed in the air.
• Example 5 Image of a supported bilayer observed in immersion.
• Image 5 which represents a supported bilayer observed in water, was obtained in immersion and in interference contrast with support No. 15 (FIG. 2B).
• the component (30) has a silicon substrate (31) and an index layer 1.74 as well as selective affinity layers (34) consisting of 5 nm thick pads with irregular contours.
• FIG. 6 represents images obtained with the analysis system according to the invention for DNA microarrays.
• the surface of the component has a matrix of affinity zones of different natures. Each zone corresponds to a different affinity layer, comprising a specific biological material. Such a component is brought into contact with a biological sample to be analyzed.
• FIG. 6A summarizes the experiments carried out on the optical components according to the invention.
• the deposited DNAs are PCR products of 1000 base pairs in length.
• the preparation and the revelation of the biochips was carried out following a confidential procedure developed by the Inserm unit U533 directed by Jean Léger.
• the fluorescence signals after scanning are quantified.
• the signals for Cy3 and Cy5 are summed.
• Sarfus allows to visualize hybridizations with probes higher than 600pb but not hybridizations with smaller probes.
• the image 61 shows that the differentiation between the pad and its environment is very large, that the defects of the pad and the environment appear clearly visible.
• the image 6J shows that the appearance of the hybrid pad differs clearly from that of the non-hybrid pad, the trapped DNA resulting in an extra thickness and introducing an additional roughness .
• This technique of reading chips without marking has the big advantage over the fluorescence techniques that the signal exploited is of refractive origin and therefore stable in time under lighting, unlike the fluorescence signal that changes with the illumination time.
• the technique also has the advantage of being compatible with very high density chips, the minimum area of a pad being of the order or less than one square micron.
• Example 7 Use of the Optical Component According to the Invention for the Detection and Screening of Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Crystals
• Figure 7A shows the two-dimensional crystals of proteins.
• the size of the observed area is 100 microns in length.
• This figure illustrates the possibilities of using the optical component according to the invention to detect protein crystals in a very early (two-dimensional) state, which makes it possible to accelerate their detection, an important advantage for the screening, and to extend research to proteins that form two-dimensional crystals but not three-dimensional crystals.
• protein screening consists in identifying among many candidates those which crystallize, which makes it possible to study the structure by X-ray diffraction, and emphasize that X-ray scattering techniques apply to two-dimensional objects ( GISAX technique for example).
• Figure 7B shows the thin three-dimensional crystals of identical proteins obtained later.
• the size of the image is 200 microns in length.
• the surface of the component has been modified to be hydrophilic which allows the bovine serum albumin (BSA) present in the solution to settle and crystallize upon evaporation of the solvent.
• BSA bovine serum albumin
• Figure IC shows the 2D crystals of polymers
• Polyethylene Glycol 4000 Polyethylene Glycol 4000.
• the respective sizes of the observed areas are 100 microns and 200 microns in length.
• the dendrites are about 4 nanometers thick.
• FIG. 7D represents the three-dimensional visualization of the crystallization at room temperature of this same polymer.
• the size of the images is 100 microns in length.
• the formation of these dendrites on the surface is fast (of the order of one micron per minute).
• This sequence of images illustrates the possibility of observing crystallization kinetics at room temperature inaccessible by other techniques.
• Example 8 Control, control and crystallization monitoring of a protein gel.
• the large size of the six images in Figure 8 is 200 microns. The first five are obtained dry between polarizer and analyzer crossed with component No. 7 (according to FIG. 2B).
• the component used for the sixth (bottom right) is a single silicon carrier coated with a film of a solution in water of approximately 100 nm thick, which can be controlled with a control device the disjunction pressure such as that proposed by Moldover and Cahn (Physical Review Letters, 1986).
• the observation is performed in differential interference contrast.
• the samples are obtained from a solution of Beta-lactoglobulin (a milk protein) in water, used as such (sixth image) or deposited on a the
• This solution forms a gel whose growth is governed by the pH of the solution, controlled during the experiment.
• This example illustrates the possibility of monitoring, controlling and controlling the processes of gelation and more generally of aggregation and crystallization of proteins or other products, which is particularly advantageous in the agro-food field, particularly for the development of processes and manufacturing control (texture of ice cream, cheese, creams, yoghurt, etc.).
• the same interest exists in the field of cosmetics where the control of textures is also important.
• the observation method is here an alternative to confocal microscopy.
• the images show the structures formed at different instants by beta-lactoglobulin in a solution (FIG. 6 of FIG. 8) or after evaporation of a solution (other images of FIG. 8).
• Example 9 Application of the optical component according to the invention for the study and control of nanotubes.
• FIG. 9A represents an image obtained with an example of an analysis system for the study and control of nanotubes. This image was obtained after CVD synthesis and shows an isolated multiwall nanotube with at its end the catalytic nanoparticle.
• Nanotubes can be synthesized in different ways. Depending on the method chosen and the conditions different results are obtained ranging from well-aligned multiwall nanotubes or linking to each other to single or interlocked single-walled nanotubes. Catalysis residues are added to these mixtures.
• the analysis method according to the invention makes it possible to discriminate all these different types of nanotubes. Among these processes is CVD (chemical vapor deposition) which allows growth synthesis on a surface from a nanoparticle catalyst or a nanometric defect.
• CVD chemical vapor deposition
• Another manufacturing process is the electric arc. This process is characterized by a great dispersity of the fabrigated nanotubes. Our technique makes it possible to watch and at the same time to sort with a AFM determined nanotubes.
• the upper surface must be free for micromanipulation.
• This component has the following characteristics: it consists of a 1 milimeter thick float glass substrate covered on one side with a chromium layer 5.3 nanometers thick and an oxide layer Chromium (CrO 2 ) 6 nanometers thick.
• the substrate is used in reflection on the covered side and attacks with the light by the other face. The useful surface is thus observed through the glass. It is advantageous to carry out this observation by immersion in the oil in order to eliminate the stray light coming from the reflections on the glass face.
• the surface can be used with its natural properties (high energy for a direct deposit with a strong anchoring of the tubes on the surface, for control, counting or tracking purposes for spectroscopic studies for example) or coated with a thin film of an amorphous polymer such as polydimethylsiloxane or else covered with a grafted layer by a surface-chemical vapor phase operation (for combed deposition from a solution for micromanipulation operations).
• FIG. 9B shows the detection of carbon nanotubes of rare form in the middle of interesting objects.
• This image whose large size is 200 microns, was obtained in immersion and in interference contrast with the support No. 16 (of FIG. 2B). It was then modified by silanization using octadecyl trichlorosilane in toluene after UV + 02 activation of the surface.
• the nanotubes visualized in FIG. 9B were previously stabilized in an aqueous solution with surfactants of SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate).
• SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate
• the interaction between the surfactants and the silane layer is favorable to the dispersed deposition of well separated nanotubes.
• Example 10 Monitoring the growth of a bacterial population.
• FIG. 10 represents an image, the large size of which is 159 microns and which was obtained in immersion and in interference contrast with support No. 16 (of FIG. 2B), used with its natural surface properties. It has indeed an important affinity for bacteria. This component, associated with an observation in interferential contrast, makes it possible to follow the evolution of a bacterial population which develops on the surface.
• the bacteria are Escherichia coli.
• the method allows the detection of bacterial growth.
• Components having a specific affinity for a bacterium allow a fine environmental control, especially in the food field.
• FIG. HA shows a differential contrast device according to the invention.
• An imaging device of a reflection interferential contrast sample (E) comprises a light source (S); a goal (O); an imaging device of the light source in the vicinity of the pupil of the lens (L); at least one polarizing element (P, A); a polarization separator element (W); a semi-transparent mirror (M). You can also add color filters (FC) anywhere between (S) and (OC) or (C).
• the mirror (M) can itself be dichroic.
• the element W introduces a lateral shift between two linear polarizations in a direction located at 45 ° from the X and Y axes. This is for example a Wollaston biprism.
• the camera or ocular device is placed after (M).
• the possible tube lens is between (M) and (C) or (OE).
• Fig. 11B shows different differential contrast device configurations.
• Example 12 Observation and measurement system between crossed polarizers.
• a system for observing a sample (E) between crossed polarizers without interference contrast is less restrictive than the system described in the preceding example.
• the L system is no longer essential.
• the W system is absent.
• Figure 12 shows a measurement system without imaging between crossed polarizers.
• This system is a single-sensor (functional surface is homogeneous, there is no imaging). It comprises: a weakly convergent source (S + L); a sensor (CAP).
• Figure 13A shows a rectangular area of the surface of the component of a length of 200 microns.
• the component is obtained by modifying the surface of component No. 7 (of FIG. 2B) with a cesium hydroxide.
• a drop of distilled water spattered for several weeks is deposited on the surface thus modified. Cells (unidentified) are visualized and the
• the sample thus formed is subjected to a succession of alternating thermal shocks at -15 ° C. and + 30 ° C. The cell bursts and the chromatin is extracted therefrom.
• the image 13A shows in its left part the cellular residue.
• the sample is kept in a humid atmosphere. Part of the chromatin progressively progresses on the surface (towards the right) while another part remains compact and seems to form condensed chromosomes (to the left of the residue).
• the stretched portion corresponds to an unfolded chromosome whose thickness is of the order of 30 nanometers.
• the two strands of the chromosome are clearly visible and are linked by a bridge (white spot common to the strands to the right of the image) which clearly evokes a centromere.
• FIG. 13C represents the two images which are 100 microns long and are obtained under the same conditions as above. They illustrate the possibility of probing interactions between partially decompacted DNA molecules (diameters 10 and 30 nm depending on brightness) with various biological objects (here not identified).
• the two images of Figure 13D represent two decompacted DNA molecules obtained by proceeding in the same manner with a highly diluted human salivary solution.
• the interactions between this DNA from a single cell and various biological objects are clearly visible.
• the method makes it possible to perform genetic diagnostics for diagnostic or analytical purposes, for example sequencing. It has the enormous advantage of saving PCR amplification, and of allowing the saving of fluorescent markers, of being able to be implemented very easily and of providing much better information: not only can we know which association is occurring but also where it occurs along the strand. For these reasons, the technique is an advantageous alternative to FISH techniques (developed for example at the Institut Pasteur by Aaron Bensimon).
• Example 14 A diagnostic method on a cell for identifying the receptors and membrane proteins present in its membrane. This example is illustrated by FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C.
• the long length of the 14A image is 200 microns. The observation is made in interferential contrast.
• the component is component # 7 (of Figure 2B). Its surface has been made hyper-hydrophilic by exposure to UV illumination from a discharge lamp with a strong component at the wavelength of 240 nanometers.
• a very dilute solution of human saliva was diluted in a glass of water (at 1 volume per 10,000 or so) and a drop of this solution was deposited on the surface of the component.
• the eukaryotic cells contained in the solution strongly adhered to this surface and the cell membrane, a bilayer whose external parts are hydrophilic, crushed on the surface (clear disk) around the nucleus (dark cluster).
• the method described in this example therefore allows all operations involving ligands of these accessible objects. These ligands can directly detect or themselves be provided with steric or fluorescent markers. The method allows identification and location of the addressed receptors.
• FIG. 14B show analogous cells obtained under the same conditions at a later stage. early (left image) and at a later stage (right image) of the process.
• the sample corresponding to the image on the right was subject to successive thermal shocks at -20 ° C. and + 20 ° C. in a humid atmosphere, leading to unfolding of the chromatin on the surface.
• the image 14C obtained with the same settings, the same procedure and the same components as the previous illustrates the interest of these observations for the study of cellular mechanisms: here a cell at the anaphase stage of a mitosis.
• the two nuclei large objects to the left and right of the disc
• the chromosome clusters spread at the ends of the equatorial plane
• the method allows the study of cellular mechanisms and the detection of functional or structural abnormalities.
• Example 15 Observation of a solution of DNA in immersion.
• This example is dedicated to the observation of an immersion DNA solution for analysis and diagnostic purposes.
• the image 15A corresponding to an observed window of total length 159 microns, is obtained in interference contrast and in immersion.
• the solution is a rat brain DNA solution and the component is # 15 ( Figure 2B).
• association in solution and the revelation by an adsorbent surface is an example of a diagnostic method that the component makes it possible to implement.
• Image 15B of the same system is obtained after several hours of incubation shows associations of surfactants contained in the initial solution with certain regions of the adsorbed molecules.
• the Brownian diffusion mechanisms govern the kinetics of these associations, which can be accelerated by mechanical agitation or a hydrodynamic flow.
• This example illustrates the possibility of performing tests based on physico-chemical associations at the interface between the component and a solution (s).
• Example 16 Examination and recognition of chromosomes, direct diagnosis on chromosomes.
• the present example demonstrates the application of the method according to the invention to chromosome analysis.
• the images in Figure 16 are 100 microns long.
• the image on the left is obtained by observing the sample between polarizer and crossed analyzer and the image on the left is obtained in Nomarski differential interference contrast.
• the two main objects visualized in Figure 16 are stretched chromosomes probably from a cell at the pre-metaphase stage in mitosis.
• An advantage of the alalyzing method according to the invention is that it does not require blocking of a particular mitotic phase since the objects extracted from the different cells are immediately recognized.
• Direct analysis for example for diagnostic purposes, is made possible by the observation of the bands colored that appear without marking and thus without destruction of objects. Another advantage is that a small number of cells is sufficient to implement the observation.
• the chromosome is a human chromosome.
• the lighting lamp is a xenon lamp.
• the image on the left ( Figure 16) clearly shows the colored bands and the image on the right shows the two strands of the chromosome and the centromere at the break in the shape of the object.
• Example 17 Visualization of steric markers.
• the image of FIG. 17, obtained in differential interference contrast, has a large dimension of 15 microns and shows a population of colloidal gold beads with a majority diameter of 20 nanometers deposited on component No. 7 (FIG. 2B). from a solution.
• the component was made hydrophobic by a vapor phase HDMS deposit, which allows a good dispersion of the suspension deposited by moving a drop on the surface using a pasteur pipette, a technique close to combing that we practice. In this method, the speed of the drop parallel to the support is of the order of 1 millimeter per second.
• This experiment illustrates the ability of the analysis method to visualize steric markers of very small size. Markers 10 times smaller can still be viewed in the same way and using the same component.
• Example 18 Importance of the affinity properties of the surface.
• Figure 18A The two images of Figure 18A, whose large size is 200 (left) and 100 (right) microns respectively, show on a No. 7 component (according to Figure 2B) (left), and No. 7 modified by silanization (right) the impact of surface affinity on the structure of cationic surfactant monolayers (0.1% SDS).
• the surfactants were deposited by evaporation from a very dilute solution in distilled water. When the surface is hydrophobic (on the left), the layers are regular although perforated (monolayer in the upper left part) or not (tricouche in the lower right part), suggesting a positional disorder of the molecules as in a liquid state.
• the image 18B on the left shows the crystalline structures obtained on the hydrophilic component.
• Image 19 the large size of which is 153 microns, shows a bilayer of phospholipids on a component No. 16 (FIG. 2B) after UV irradiation with oxygen.
• the bilayer was obtained by depositing a very small amount of liposome solution of DPPC, a reference phospholipid.
• the deposit is made by direct contact (both solid and liquid) between a manual spinner 100 microns in diameter soaked in the solution and the component.
• the observation is then carried out in water in interferential contrast.
• the observation shows the presence of a very regular bilayer (except top left) and very stable in water.
• Such a bilayer may constitute a spot of a protein biochip.
• the deposition technique is moreover compatible with the use of automated spotters, and the bilayer can accommodate any kind of receptors introduced beforehand by mixing in the DPPC solution, the receptors then integrating into liposome bilayers.
• Each spot may correspond to a different solution containing receptors determined after the use of the biochip.
• Liposomes are vesicles (sacs) whose membrane is a bilayer of phospholipids. They are used for the vectorization of active products in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields, the bags being used in contact with the target.
• the present invention allows this study and this control.
• the surface properties of the component must then reproduce those of the target. It is also important to characterize the size distribution of liposomes as it may change with time or storage conditions.
• the interaction between the liposomes and the surface of the component can be adjusted by adjusting its surface properties.
• each liposome becoming a puddle which may be a bilayer or a monolayer.
• d the diameter of the liposome is slightly lower than the resolution r of the observation system, because the diameter of the puddle (disk) is 2 times that of the liposome (sphere). For d> r / 2, the puddle is resolved;
• Each liposome appears in interferential contrast as a point whose light intensity and / or color are functions of its diameter.
• the same proposal applies to puddles with a diameter of less than r / 2.
• Liposomes of unknown nature are objects from the cosmetology industry.
• the liposomes spontaneously adsorb on the component whose surface is very homogeneous in the form of hemi-liposomes, that is to say hemispheres placed on the surface.
• the contact angle of objects on the surface is constant and very close to 90 °.
• the bright dots are objects with a diameter of 50 nanometers.
• the component makes it possible to establish an exploitable link between the size of the objects and their appearance (calibration), then to follow the evolution of the distribution of objects in the solution, with the conditions and the duration of storage, for example.
• This application is very advantageous because it allows a direct and simple characterization to implement objects observed individually, whereas the available techniques, based on light scatterometry, only allow access to averaged quantities. on the whole population.
• Example 21 Method of analyzing an object located on the surface or near the surface of a liquid, or at the interface between two liquids, where one or more layer (s) of index is (are ) constituted by the said liquid (s). Observation of layers or objects located on or near the surface of a liquid (Langmuir layers, compounds adsorbed at the liquid / air interface), and monitoring the interactions of these layers or objects with external agents by means of an optical component according to the invention used in the assembly illustrated in FIG. 21
• the thickness e can be adjusted by the following device.
• a mechanical or piezoelectric device or the variation of the level of the Langmuir layer makes it possible to bring the optical component to a position h with a precision of the order of one nanometer.
• the thickness e of the film results from a balance between disjunction pressure and gravity.
• An adjustment of h makes it possible to adjust e with a precision of the order of a few nanometers, so as to obtain maximum contrast.

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