A new design of knife-edged AFM probe for chromosome precision manipulating

We have studied a new approach to analyze the genetic information and manipulate the three-dimensional structure of the human chromosomes by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This paper reports the design and fabrication of the novel knife-edged AFM probe device, and its application for the manipulation of the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and human chromosome. The chromosome and dsDNA were dissected physically by using the knife-edged probe under AFM operation. The dissected area of the chromosomes was found to be finer and sharper compared with the conventional AFM probe. Moreover, the dissection and imaging procedures with the same knife-edged probe were also possible. Additionally, the dissected fragment of chromosome could be moved efficiently by pushing with the nose of the knife-edged probe on substrate, and the shape of the chromosome was not lost. Our results are promising as a new and fundamental technological improvement for chromosomal manipulation.