Moss, GWJ; Del Linz, SJ; Willman, EJ; Caldwell, M; Klenerman, D; Fernández, FA; (2014) Contact-free scanning and imaging with the scanning ion conductance microscope. Analytical Chemistry , 86 (5) pp. 2353-2360. 10.1021/ac402748j.

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Abstract

Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) offers the ability to obtain very high resolution topographical images of living cells. In addition, the probe can be used to measure cell responses such as muscle contraction or to map ion channel activity to specific subcellular locations. For biological imaging one of the great advantages of SICM lies in its ability to perform contact-free scanning; imaging cells or tissues without touching the cell surface. However, it is not yet clear when the requirements of this scan mode are met. We have used finite element modelling (FEM) to examine the conditions for contact free scanning and we have validated our modelling using both experimental data and by comparing our results to predictions in analytically tractable situations. Our findings provide a framework for understanding the conditions for contact-free scanning and also extend previous findings with regard to SICM resolution. Finally, we demonstrate the importance of our findings by imaging cells under a variety of conditions.

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