Development of a Novel Combined Scanning Electrochemical Microscope (SECM) and Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscope (SICM) Probe for Soft Sample Imaging

ABSTRACTBy incorporating a localized heating system within a scanning ion-conductance microscopy (SICM) system, we have performed stable ‘hopping-mode’ (HPICM) imaging for live cells maintained at temperatures ranging up to human body temperature. This allows the accurate study of cell volume and morphology variation versus temperature over extended periods of time. The integration of SICM with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) provides the simultaneous mapping of electrochemical and topographic information for soft samples, such as live cells. This combined technique overcomes the limitations of resolution and topographical artifacts typically associated with SECM. However, previously reported SECM-SICM probe production required expensive and time-consuming focused ion beam (FIB) methods and produced pipettes that are typically hundreds of nanometers in diameter. We report a simple and rapid production method for SECM-SICM double-barrel probes with apertures down to 20 nm in diameter. The characterization of these SECM-SICM probes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Raman spectroscopy is also detailed. These SECM-SICM probes were subsequently used to study the morphology and electrochemical activity of several samples, ranging from hard metallic/insulating samples to live cells.

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Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy for High-Resolution Topography of Soft Samples Including Live Cells

Microscopy and Microanalysis ◽

10.1017/s1431927611002054 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (S2) ◽

pp. 236-237

Author(s):

G De Filippi ◽

C Moore

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Live Cells ◽

Ion Conductance ◽

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy ◽

Soft Samples

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, August 7–August 11, 2011.

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Gauging surface charge distribution of live cell membrane by ionic current change using scanning ion conductance microscopy

Nanoscale ◽

10.1039/d1nr05230f ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Feng Chen ◽

Jin He ◽

Prakash Manandhar ◽

Yizi Yang ◽

Peidang Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Membrane ◽

Surface Charge ◽

Charge Distribution ◽

Ionic Current ◽

Live Cells ◽

Ion Conductance ◽

Physiological Conditions ◽

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy ◽

Surface Charge Distribution ◽

Current Change

The distribution of surface charge and potential of cell membrane plays an indispensable role in cellular activities. However, probing surface charge of live cells in physiological conditions, until recently, remains...

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Large Area Nanohole Arrays for Sensing Fabricated by Interference Lithography

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s19092182 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (9) ◽

pp. 2182 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Chiara Valsecchi ◽

Luis Enrique Gomez Armas ◽

Jacson Weber de Menezes

Keyword(s):

Soft Lithography ◽

Focused Ion Beam ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Ion Beam ◽

Production Method ◽

Interference Lithography ◽

Visible Range ◽

Large Area ◽

Nanohole Array ◽

Nanohole Arrays

Several fabrication techniques are recently used to produce a nanopattern for sensing, as focused ion beam milling (FIB), e-beam lithography (EBL), nanoimprinting, and soft lithography. Here, interference lithography is explored for the fabrication of large area nanohole arrays in metal films as an efficient, flexible, and scalable production method. The transmission spectra in air of the 1 cm2 substrate were evaluated to study the substrate behavior when hole-size, periodicity, and film thickness are varied, in order to elucidate the best sample for the most effective sensing performance. The efficiency of the nanohole array was tested for bulk sensing and compared with other platforms found in the literature. The sensitivity of ~1000 nm/RIU, achieved with an array periodicity in the visible range, exceeds near infrared (NIR) performances previously reported, and demonstrates that interference lithography is one of the best alternative to other expensive and time-consuming nanofabrication methods.

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Topographic imaging of convoluted surface of live cells by scanning ion conductance microscopy in a standing approach mode

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics ◽

10.1039/c002607g ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 12 (34) ◽

pp. 10012 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Yasufumi Takahashi ◽

Yumi Murakami ◽

Kuniaki Nagamine ◽

Hitoshi Shiku ◽

Shigeo Aoyagi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Live Cells ◽

Ion Conductance ◽

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy ◽

Topographic Imaging

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Imaging the cell surface and its organization down to the level of single molecules

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2012.0027 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 368 (1611) ◽

pp. 20120027 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

David Klenerman ◽

Andrew Shevchuk ◽

Pavel Novak ◽

Yuri E. Korchev ◽

Simon J. Davis

Keyword(s):

Single Molecule ◽

Cell Biology ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Live Cells ◽

High Temporal Resolution ◽

Biological Processes ◽

Single Molecule Fluorescence ◽

Ion Conductance ◽

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy ◽

And Function

Determining the organization of key molecules on the surface of live cells in two dimensions and how this changes during biological processes, such as signalling, is a major challenge in cell biology and requires methods with nanoscale spatial resolution and high temporal resolution. Here, we review biophysical tools, based on scanning ion conductance microscopy and single-molecule fluorescence and the combination of both of these methods, which have recently been developed to address these issues. We then give examples of how these methods have been be applied to provide new insights into cell membrane organization and function, and discuss some of the issues that will need to be addressed to further exploit these methods in the future.

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Scanning ion conductance microscopy: a nanotechnology for biological studies in live cells

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2012.00483 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bing-Chen Liu ◽

Xiao-Yu Lu ◽

Xiang Song ◽

Ke-Yu Lei ◽

Abdel A. Alli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Live Cells ◽

Ion Conductance ◽

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy ◽

Biological Studies

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BIOPHYSICAL APPLICATIONS OF SCANNING ION CONDUCTANCE MICROSCOPY (SICM)

Modern Physics Letters B ◽

10.1142/s0217984911300031 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 26 (05) ◽

pp. 1130003 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

FRANKLIN ANARIBA ◽

JOON HYUNG ANH ◽

GOO-EUN JUNG ◽

NAM-JOON CHO ◽

SANG-JOON CHO

Keyword(s):

Chemical Properties ◽

Live Cells ◽

Cell Dynamics ◽

Fundamental Physics ◽

Ion Conductance ◽

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy ◽

Patch Clamp Electrophysiology ◽

And Function ◽

Physical And Chemical

Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques represent one of the most promising approaches to probe the physical and chemical properties of nanoscale materials. The growing convergence of physics and biology has demanded nanotechnology tools to understand the fundamental physics of biological systems. Despite the advantages of SPM techniques, there have been challenges with its application to characterization of biological specimens. In recent times, the development of one class of SPM technique, scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM), has overcome these limitations and enabled noninvasive, nanoscale investigation of live cells. In this review article, we present the theory behind the SICM operating principles and data modeling. Based on this framework, we discuss recent research advances where the SICM technique has proven technically superior. SICM applications discussed herein include imaging of cell topography, monitoring of live cell dynamics, mechanical stimulation of live cells, and surface patterning. Additional findings on the combination of SICM with other SPM techniques as well as patch clamp electrophysiology are presented in the context of building integrated knowledge on the structure and function of live cells. In summary, SICM bridges physics and biology to enable a range of important biomedical applications.

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Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy and its Applications in Nanobiology and Nanomedicine

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.60-61.27 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 60-61 ◽

pp. 27-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Li Ping Liu ◽

Yun Dou Wang ◽

Yan Jun Zhang

Keyword(s):

Scanning Probe Microscopy ◽

Cell Biology ◽

Cell Structure ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Live Cells ◽

Ion Conductance ◽

New Era ◽

Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy ◽

And Function ◽

The Relationship

In cell biology and medicine study, continuous high spatial resolution observations of living cells would greatly aid the elucidation of the relationship between structure and function of cells. The development of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) has opened up a new era of life science and has been used to develop a family of related methods that allow studying of cell structure and function on nanometer scale. Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is a new member of such SPM family and can be used to obtain high-resolution non-contact images of the surface of live cells under physiological conditions, and hence allows the relationship between cell microstructure and function to be probed. In this review, we concisely introduce the principles of SICM and its applications in nanobiology and nanomedicine.

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