London's Natural History Museum Chooses Asylum Research MFP-3D(TM) AFM
June 22, 2009 (Santa Barbara, CA) Asylum Research and the Natural History Museum of London announced today that the Museum's Mineralogy Department has acquired Asylum's MFP-3D Stand Alone Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to expand on their range of research tools to study nanomaterials. The focus of the research, led by Dr. Eva Valsami-Jones, is the evaluation of the fundamental physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles to assess how these properties change as particle size decreases, the links between natural minerals and manufactured nanoparticles, and the implications for human health, other organisms, and the natural world.
Commented Dr. Valsami-Jones, "We chose Asylum's MFP-3D AFM because we found it to be the most powerful and easy to use AFM available. It is the only system capable of imaging complex samples with very rough topographies at the nanoscale, and we were impressed by its excellent optics for locating areas of interest for AFM scanning. Sample loading and unloading and tip exchange are faster and more intuitive, and the post-data collection processing capabilities are clearly superior. We are excited about applying the MFP-3D to our nanotoxicology research initially and to other Museum studies in the near future."
Added Dr. Chris Mulcahy, Asylum UK Managing Director, "We are proud that the MFP-3D has been selected by the Natural History Museum, one of the most prestigious organizations in the world for scientific research of the natural world. Their research on the effects and potential toxicity of nanoparticles is a critical area of study for human and environmental health and we at Asylum Research are pleased to be a part of that research."
About the Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is an international leader in the scientific study of the natural world. Gathering knowledge about nature for over 250 years, the Museum is one of the world's premier institutions for naming, describing and classifying the living, fossil and mineral diversity on Earth. More than 300 scientists in the Museum's five science departments promote understanding of the processes which have resulted in nature's diversity, and develop knowledge that supports anticipation and management of the impact of human activity on the environment.
They help to tackle a diverse range of global problems, such as threats to the Earth's biodiversity, the maintenance of delicate ecosystems, natural hazards, environmental pollution and disease. The Museum's collections of 70 million animal, plant, mineral, rock and fossil specimens are vital resource for research and understanding of the natural world.
About Asylum Research
Asylum Research is the technology leader for atomic force and scanning probe microscopy (AFM/SPM) for both materials and bioscience applications. Founded in 1999, we are a company dedicated to innovative instrumentation for nanoscience and nanotechnology, with over 250 years combined AFM/SPM experience from our scientists, engineers and software developers. Our instruments are used for a variety of nanoscience applications in material science, physics, polymers, chemistry, biomaterials, and bioscience, including single molecule mechanical experiments on DNA, protein unfolding and polymer elasticity, as well as force measurements for biomaterials, chemical sensing, polymers, colloidal forces, adhesion, and more. Asylum's product line offers imaging and measurement capabilities for a wide range of samples, including advanced techniques such as electrical characterization (CAFM, KFM, EFM), high voltage piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM) with our unique variable field module, quantitative nanoindenting, and a wide range of environmental accessories and application-ready modules.
Asylum's MFP-3D set the standard for AFM technology, with unprecedented precision and flexibility. The MFP-3D is the first AFM with true independent piezo positioning in all three axes, combined with low noise closed-loop feedback sensor technology. The MFP-3D offers both top and bottom sample viewing for easy integration with most commercially-available inverted optical microscopes.
Asylum's new Cypher AFM is the world's first completely new small sample AFM/SPM in over a decade, and sets the new standard as the world's highest resolution AFM. Cypher provides low-drift closed loop atomic resolution for the most accurate images and measurements possible today, rapid AC imaging with small cantilevers, Spot-On(TM) automated laser alignment for easy setup, integrated thermal, acoustic and vibration control, and broad support for all major AFM/SPM scanning modes and capabilities.
Asylum Research offers the lowest cost of ownership of any AFM company. Ask us about our industry-best 2-year warranty, our legendary product and applications support, and our exclusive 6-month money-back satisfaction guarantee. We are dedicated to providing the most technically advanced AFMs for researchers who want to take their experiments to the next level. Asylum Research also distributes third party cantilevers from Olympus, Nanoworld/Nanosensors, and our own MFM and iDrive(TM) tips.
For additional information, contact
Terry Mehr, Director of Marketing Communications, or Monteith Heaton, EVP, Marketing/Business Development, Asylum Research, 6310 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, 805-696-6466x224/227, Terry@AsylumResearch.com, Monte@AsylumResearch.com, www.AsylumResearch.com.
