Characterization of tip size and geometry of the pipettes used in scanning ion conductance microscopy.

Scanning ion-conductance microscopy (SICM) belongs to the family of scanning-probe microscopies. The spatial resolution of these techniques is limited by the size of the probe. In SICM the probe is a pipette, obtained by heating and pulling a glass capillary tubing.

Comment on "The long range voice coil atomic force microscope" [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 83, 023705 (2012)].

In a recent article Barnard et al. described the use of voice coil actuators to realize a large range scanner for probe microscopy. The results reported are interesting, but the idea is not new.

Measuring the elastic properties of living cells through the analysis of current-displacement curves in scanning ion conductance microscopy.

Knowledge of mechanical properties of living cells is essential to understand their physiological and pathological conditions. To measure local cellular elasticity, scanning probe techniques have been increasingly employed. In particular, non-contact scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) has been used for this purpose; thanks to the application of a hydrostatic pressure via the SICM pipette.

Weak hydrostatic forces in far-scanning ion conductance microscopy used to guide neuronal growth cones.

Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is currently used for high resolution topographic imaging of living cells. Recently, it has been also employed as a tool to deliver stimuli to the cells. In this work we have investigated the mechanical interaction occurring between the pipette tip and the sample during SICM operation.

Recapitulation of the Roberts syndrome cellular phenotype by inhibition of INCENP, ZWINT-1 and ZW10 genes.

Roberts syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised primarily by symmetric reduction of all limbs and growth retardation. Patients have been reported to have premature separation of heterochromatin regions of many chromosomes and abnormalities in cell cycle. Given the rarity of the syndrome, the linkage analysis approach is not suitable to identify the responsible gene.