KEYWORDS: AFM; Biomaterial; BioMAT; Upright Optical Microscopy; Correlative Microscopy; Opaque Samples; DirectOverlay; Optical Integration; Living Cells; J-aggregates; Bacteriorhodopsin
The BioMAT biomaterials workstation creates new opportunities for research and discovery using non-transparent samples. Featuring a unique design that combines the specific advantages of both upright optical microscopy and AFM, BioMAT delivers outstanding flexibility and allows precise correlation of almost all upright microscopy techniques (DIC, brightfield, fluorescence, confocal laser scanning, FLIM, FRET, FRAP, FCS, IR, Raman) and AFM images on historically challenging or impossible opaque samples.
This technical note outlines how the BioMAT workstation combines upright optical microscopy with AFM and how researchers can harness its unique correlative microscopy capabilities to study a variety of non-transparent samples. Example applications explored range from the study of bacterial growth on metallic surfaces to fluorescent polymers and the surface chemistry of samples.