IUVSTA 15th International Vacuum Congress (IVC-15), AVS 48th International Symposium (AVS-48), 11th International Conference on Solid Surfaces (ICSS-11)
    Biomaterials Tuesday Sessions
       Session BI-TuP

Paper BI-TuP5
Optical Inverted Microscope with a Scanning Near Field Optical Microscope to Study Biological Material

Tuesday, October 30, 2001, 5:30 pm, Room 134/135

Session: Surface Characterization and Non-Fouling Surfaces Poster Session
Presenter: R. Generosi, ISM-CNR, Italy
Authors: A. Cricenti, ISM-CNR, Italy
R. Generosi, ISM-CNR, Italy
M. Luce, ISM-CNR, Italy
P. Perfetti, ISM-CNR, Italy
Correspondent: Click to Email
A scanning near field optical microscope (SNOM) has been added to a standard inverted optical microscope with the dedicate aim of characterizing the inner parts of biological molecules. Therefore, in addition to the requirements of reliability and mechanical stability we have carefully looked to analyzing a sample with all available geometries for input/output of photons, in order to get as many information as possible. The SNOM unit consists of a support mounted on the optical microscope arm containing a piezoelectric scanner. The reflectivity of the sample can be measured by applying different methods: the sample can be illuminated on top by an external source, as well as by the optical fiber used for the detection of the reflectivity signal. Absorption experiments can be easily performed by detecting the transmitted signal through the optical apparatus of the inverted microscope.Also fluorescence signal can be simultaneously detected. Reflectivity, transmissivity and fluorescence measurements will be presented on several biological systems, with a resolution well below the diffraction limit.