<br/>Langmuir monolayers are extensively used as models for biological interfaces and to investigate the role of membrane composition in cellular processes. Significant information can be gained from the experimental data obtained with a Langmuir trough by measuring changes in surface pressure while simultaneously reducing the molecular area under isothermal conditions. While the isotherm data and compressibility modulus provide a fair amount of information about the film, it is advantageous to visualize these films with optical microscopy systems. For this reason, Brewster Angle Microscopy and Epifluorescence Microscopy systems were constructed. Brewster Angle Microscopy is a useful technique for the analysis of surface characteristics of films at the air-water interface in a Langmuir trough due to its ability to obtain images while simultaneously collecting isothermal data, without the use of a fluorescence probe. A low-cost Brewster Angle Microscope (BAM) was constructed for the visualization of domain morphology in Langmuir monolayer films using a combination of various LEGO™ pieces and 3D-printed components in addition to a laser, a microscope objective, and a CCD camera. This was used specifically to obtain images during the compression analyses of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE), as well as binary mixed monolayers of DPPC/Cholesterol. Additionally, a low-cost epifluorescence microscope was constructed using 3D-printed and off-the-shelf components for visualization of these films via the addition of a fluorescence probe. Software was developed for the manual control and automation of image processing for both microscopy systems using LabVIEW, Python, and ImageJ.<br/>

Development of microscopy systems for the visualization of Langmuir monolayer films

2019 Spring National Meeting

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