title: FluidFM: combining atomic force microscopy and nanofluidics in a universal liquid delivery system for single cell applications and beyond.
abstract: We describe the fluidFM, an atomic force microscope (AFM) based on hollow cantilevers for local liquid dispensing and stimulation of single living cells under physiological conditions. A nanofluidic channel in the cantilever allows soluble molecules to be dispensed through a submicrometer aperture in the AFM tip. The sensitive AFM force feedback allows controlled approach of the tip to a sample for extremely local modification of surfaces in liquid environments. It also allows reliable discrimination between gentle contact with a cell membrane or its perforation. Using these two procedures, dyes have been introduced into individual living cells and even selected subcellular structures of these cells. The universality and versatility of the fluidFM will stimulate original experiments at the submicrometer scale not only in biology but also in physics, chemistry, and material science.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology, CSEM SA, rue Jaquet Droz 1, 2002 Neuchatel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meister
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabi
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Behr
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Studer
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vörös
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Niedermann
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bitterli
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polesel-Maris
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liley
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinzelmann
authors.forename: Tomaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zambelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats