Correlative optical and scanning probe microscopies for mapping interactions at membranes

Area of Science:

• Molecular and Cellular Biophysics
• Advanced Imaging Techniques
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Real-time imaging at molecular scales is crucial for understanding cellular and molecular structures and dynamics.
• Combinatorial imaging modalities overcome individual limitations, enabling rich multi-modal data collection.
• Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and optical microscopy have a long-standing association, particularly in biophysics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe recent advancements in integrated scanning probe and optical microscopy platforms.
• To outline the methodology and challenges of performing coupled imaging experiments.
• To explore the potential and future opportunities of these tools in molecular and cellular biophysics.

Main Methods:

• Integration of scanning probe microscopy with conventional optical microscopy.
• Simultaneous acquisition of three-dimensional molecular-scale topographical images and optical data.
• Application of mechanical or optical stimuli to examine dynamic events.

Main Results:

• Development of integrated platforms for real-time, in situ imaging at nanometer resolution.
• Acquisition of multi-modal datasets characterizing molecular structures and dynamics.
• Demonstration of enhanced capabilities for studying sub-cellular length scales and membrane interface interactions.

Conclusions:

• Integrated scanning probe and optical microscopy provides powerful tools for molecular and cellular biophysics.
• These coupled approaches offer significant potential for characterizing molecular interactions, especially at membrane interfaces.
• Future research opportunities lie in further developing and applying these advanced imaging platforms.