Setup for observing living cells using a commercial atomic force microscope

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