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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Imaging Plasma Membrane Deformations With pTIRFM
Published on: April 2, 2014
Non-destructive pre- and post-experimental validation of glass nanopipette geometry: quantifying beam-induced
Han Gia Nguyen1, Linhao Sun2, Hirotoshi Furusho2
1Division of Nano Life Science, Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan.
Abstract:
Nanopipettes have emerged as versatile tools for diverse applications, ranging from single-molecule sensing and nanoparticle detection to scanning probe microscopies such as scanning electrochemical microscopy and scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM). In all these fields, precise geometrical characterization is a prerequisite for quantitative analysis. However, conventional "post-experimental" characterization cannot guarantee that the tip maintained its critical geometry during the experiment. While membrane-free transmission electron microscopy enables the non-destructive observation required for "pre- and post-experimental" validation, it introduces a risk of beam-induced deformation. In this study, we systematically investigated the deformation dynamics of quartz and borosilicate glass nanopipettes. Our analysis revealed distinct mechanisms: quartz exhibited continuous spheroidization enabled by structural homogeneity, whereas borosilicate glass showed fracture due to heterogeneity. Crucially, we identified a stable regime where deformation is negligible. By adhering to these conditions, we successfully demonstrated the rigorous tracking of a single quartz nanopipette's geometry both before and after live-cell SICM imaging. This workflow provides the first direct evidence of structural stability throughout the functional process, establishing a quantitative framework for reliable nanopipette metrology.
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