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Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic Force Microscopy

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Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy

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Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of DNA Three-Point-Star Motif Self Assembly Using Photothermal Off-Resonance Tapping

High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging of DNA Three-Point-Star Motif Self Assembly Using Photothermal Off-Resonance Tapping

Published on: March 22, 2024

High-speed atomic force microscope combined with single-molecule fluorescence microscope.

Shingo Fukuda¹, Takayuki Uchihashi, Ryota Iino

¹Department of Physics, College of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan.

The Review of Scientific Instruments

|August 2, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

We developed a combined high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) system. This enables simultaneous high-resolution imaging of molecular dynamics, visualizing proteins like chitinase A and myosin V.

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Microscopy
Nanotechnology

Background:

High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) offer complementary insights into molecular mechanisms.
Simultaneous application of both techniques has been a challenge, limiting comprehensive nanoscale observation.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and demonstrate a novel combined HS-AFM and TIRFM system.
To enable simultaneous, high-resolution imaging of dynamic molecular processes at the nanoscale.

Main Methods:

Developed a tip-scan HS-AFM instrument with enhanced laser tracking for X- and Y-cantilever motion.
Integrated the HS-AFM system onto an inverted optical microscope with a wide-area scanner.
Utilized simultaneous HS-AFM/TIRFM imaging to observe molecular dynamics.

Main Results:

Successfully combined HS-AFM and TIRFM for simultaneous operation.
Demonstrated the system's capability by imaging chitinase A on chitin fibers.
Visualized myosin V movement along actin filaments with combined microscopy.

Conclusions:

The developed combined HS-AFM/TIRFM system effectively integrates complementary nanoscale imaging modalities.
This integrated approach provides enhanced capabilities for studying dynamic biological processes at the molecular level.