ABSTRACT
Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is a form of scanning probe microscopy (SPM). SICM was developed by Hansma and coworkers1 in 1989 and is a method for high-resolution noncontact imaging of living cells in physiological conditions.2 Since its invention, SICM has been used to study a wide range of small living cells including contracting cardiac myocytes, k idney A6 epithelial c ells, a nd neu ronal s ynapses. Wi th SI CM, t he s canning probe is a micropipette lled with electrolyte solution that is scanned over the surface of a sample immersed in electrolyte. e pipette-sample separation is maintained at a constant value by controlling the ion current that ows via the pipette aperture. is t echnique o ers m ajor adv antages o ver ot her S PM techniques for investigating living cells. For example, SICM is a noncontact w ay o f i maging w ith t he p robe m aintained su - ciently far away from the surface so as not to make unintentional contact. e probe is hollow so it can be used to del iver molecules or ions to t he surface. Furthermore, positive and negative pressure applied t hrough t he pipette can be exploited for noncontact mechanical stimulation of the sample.
