Setup for observing living cells using a commercial atomic force microscope

In this note, we present a setup which can be adapted to commercially available atomic force microscopes (Nanoscope II and III) to permit the observation of living cells in nearly physiological conditions. The setup permits one to heat the sample up to 40 degreesC, to exchange (without the use of the "O" ring) the imaging buffer while measuring, and to distinguish fluorescently labeled cell subpopulations. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(00)03411-0].