A Petri cell modified for atomic force microscopy suitable to investigate biological samples in liquid

Abstract

A cell for biological samples that allows atomic force microscopy ͑AFM͒ observations in a controlled environment ͑air or gas or any liquid͒ is described. The cell is made of a modified Petri container and it is possible, through two inlet and outlet feedthroughs, to introduce an aqueous liquid during AFM observation thus directly visualizing the modifications induced on the biological specimen. Uncoated neurons and Escherichia Coli bacteria have been imaged in air and after introducing an aqueous liquid by contact-mode AFM: the microimages are similar and show a comparable resolution even though the force applied to the biological material is different.