High Resolution Images of Cell Surface Using a Tapping-Mode Atomic Force Microscope

Abstract
We succeeded in obtaining high-resolution images of a cell surface using a tapping-mode atomic force microscope (tapping-mode AFM) in air. The resulting images resolved many particles of 40-80 nm in radius and distinguished regions where the particles formed clusters from other regions. Such images could not be obtained using a contact-mode atomic force microscope (contact-mode AFM) operated under the same conditions. The result demonstrates the possibility of cell surface research using the tapping-mode AFM with molecular resolution.