title: Force-feedback high-speed atomic force microscope for studying large biological systems.
abstract: We designed and developed a high-speed atomic force microscope (HSAFM) utilizing a force-feedback scheme for imaging large biological samples. The system collects three simultaneous images: a deflection image, a topographic image, and a force image. We demonstrated that this force-feedback HSAFM is capable of acquiring large topographic images of Escherichia coli biofilms at approximately one frame per second in air. We discuss how the self-actuating cantilever and the piezo tube follow those larger biological topographic features during the HSAFM imaging process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, USA. ByungKim@boisestate.edu
authors.forename: Byung I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ryan D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Boehm
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*