Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Scanning Electron Microscopy

Scanning Electron Microscopy

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to study the surface features of a sample by using an electron beam that scans the sample surface in a two-dimensional manner. Typically, areas between ~1 centimeter to 5 micrometers in width can be imaged. SEM can be used to image bacteria, viruses, tissues as well as larger samples like insects. Conventional SEM gives a magnification ranging from 20X to 30,000X and spatial resolution of 50 to 100 nanometers.
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Visualization of the membrane surface and cytoskeleton of oligodendrocyte progenitor cell growth cones using a combination of scanning ion conductance and four times expansion microscopy.

Biological chemistry·2023

Same author

Deficiency of Thyroid Hormone Reduces Voltage-Gated Na<sup>+</sup> Currents as Well as Expression of Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup>-ATPase in the Mouse Hippocampus.

International journal of molecular sciences·2022

Same author

Adjusting the neuron to astrocyte ratio with cytostatics in hippocampal cell cultures from postnatal rats: A comparison of cytarabino furanoside (AraC) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUdR).

PloS one·2022

Same author

Variations in Plasma Membrane Topography Can Explain Heterogenous Diffusion Coefficients Obtained by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy.

Frontiers in cell and developmental biology·2020

Same author

Novel Tools towards Magnetic Guidance of Neurite Growth: (I) Guidance of Magnetic Nanoparticles into Neurite Extensions of Induced Human Neurons and In Vitro Functionalization with RAS Regulating Proteins.

Journal of functional biomaterials·2019

Same author

Differential expression patterns of sodium potassium ATPase alpha and beta subunit isoforms in mouse brain during postnatal development.

Neurochemistry international·2019

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Label-Free Imaging of Single Proteins Secreted from Living Cells via iSCAT Microscopy

Label-Free Imaging of Single Proteins Secreted from Living Cells via iSCAT Microscopy

Published on: November 20, 2018

Scanning ion conductance microscopy for studying biological samples.

Patrick Happel¹, Denis Thatenhorst, Irmgard D Dietzel

¹Central Unit for Ionbeams and Radionuclides (RUBION), Ruhr-University of Bochum, Bochum, Bochum, Germany. patrick.happel@rub.de

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)

|December 4, 2012

Summary

Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) offers high-resolution imaging of delicate samples like living cells without physical contact. This technique can be combined with other methods to study cellular functions and ion activity.

More Related Videos

Focussed Ion Beam Milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue

Focussed Ion Beam Milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue

Published on: July 6, 2011

Applications of the Single-probe: Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Single Cell Analysis under Ambient Conditions

Applications of the Single-probe: Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Single Cell Analysis under Ambient Conditions

Published on: June 14, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 16, 2026

Label-Free Imaging of Single Proteins Secreted from Living Cells via iSCAT Microscopy

Label-Free Imaging of Single Proteins Secreted from Living Cells via iSCAT Microscopy

Published on: November 20, 2018

Focussed Ion Beam Milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue

Focussed Ion Beam Milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue

Published on: July 6, 2011

Applications of the Single-probe: Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Single Cell Analysis under Ambient Conditions

Applications of the Single-probe: Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Single Cell Analysis under Ambient Conditions

Published on: June 14, 2016

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Microscopy

Background:

Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is a scanning probe technique.
It measures changes in access resistance as a micro-pipette approaches a surface.
This non-contact method is ideal for imaging delicate samples like living cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the advantages and disadvantages of SICM.
To provide an overview of recent developments and applications in biological imaging.
To explore the potential of combining SICM with ion-selective microelectrodes.

Main Methods:

Utilizes an electrolyte-filled glass micro-pipette as a scanning probe.
Monitors the increase in electrical resistance before physical contact.
Can be integrated with fluorescence microscopy and patch clamping.

Main Results:

SICM enables high-resolution, long-term imaging of living cells.
It allows for the determination of local changes in cellular volume.
Potential for monitoring local ion activity around cells when combined with ion-selective electrodes.

Conclusions:

SICM is a valuable tool for non-invasively imaging delicate biological samples.
Its combination with other techniques expands its utility in cell biology.
Future applications include monitoring cellular ion dynamics.