Hybrid scanning ion conductance and scanning near-field optical microscopyfor the study of living cells

We have developed a hybrid scanning ion conductance and scanning near-field optical microscope for the study of living cells. The technique allows qua ntitative, high-resolution characterization of the cell surface and the sim ultaneous recording of topographic and optical images. A particular feature of the method is a reliable mechanism to control the distance between the probe and the sample in physiological buffer. We demonstrate this new metho d by recording near-field images of living cells (cardiac myocytes).