Regiospecific Orientation of Single-chain Antibody and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) Images

An antibody containing a genetically engineered lipid group at the N-termunus and a hexahistidinyl tag at the C-terminus (Lpp-scF-His6) was immobilized in an oriented manner on the surface of liposome. Liposomes, consisting of antibody and phosphatidyl-choline, have been prepared and imaged by AFM. For AFM visualization, the resulting liposomes were bound on the surface of mica by two different mechanisms. The histidine tags present in the antibody molecules of the immonuliposome were anchored to the NiCl2 treated mica surface. Alternatively, the immunoliposomes were immunochemically bound on antigen-coated mica surface. Both approaches yielded liposomes which were clearly imaged without damage by AFM in ambient condition.