Implementation of NSOM to Biological Samples

S. Prauzner-Bechcickia, b, J. Wiltowska-Zubera, A. Budkowskib, M. Lekkaa and J. Ryszb aThe Henryk Niewodniczański Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, E. Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342 Kraków, Poland bThe Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, W.S. Reymonta 4, 30-054 Kraków, Poland

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Near-field scanning optical microscopy is a technique providing images of structures with spatial resolution better than λ/2, which is undetectable in far-field where the Abbe law of limiting resolution is critical. In parallel to the optical imaging, topography maps are also acquired. Near-field scanning optical microscopy measurements can be performed both in air and liquid environments. The later makes the technique very useful for biomaterials analysis offering information that could not be obtained with other methods. Our work presents the results of recent studies on application of near-field scanning optical microscopy to imaging of cells in air as well as in physiological buffers. Differences in cell's topography and morphology have been noticed between two cell lines from human bladder non-malignant (HCV29) and malignant (T24) cancers. Presented results are part of the research that characterizes physiological changes of cells depending on stage of cancer.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.121.533 PACS numbers: 87.64.M-, 87.64.mt