Nano-probes unravel biological properties
SII is currently developing a new microscopy and measurement system based on our scanning probe microscope as an advanced measurement tool for biological samples and biomolecules in their original state.
Surpassing the magnification of conventional optical microscopes and scanning electron microscopes (SEM), this system also provides observation under submerged conditions which are the closest to living conditions.
By developing a functional nano-probe that enables measurement with extremely low force, this system captures the cells behavior in liquid, which had been extremely difficult before.
We hope that early practical applications of the bio SPM in clinical testing, diagnosis in life sciences and basic medical research, drug discovery and the development of new materials that make use of bio-properties, it will be able to contribute to life sciences research and development.
*This research is commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), which is funded by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. A part of this research is delegated to Tokyo University of Technology, National Food Research Institute, Prefectural University of Hiroshima and Tokyo Institute of Technology. Joint industry-government-academia research has been actively promoted.
*The images used in this section are reprinted and edited from NEDO's “Functional Nano-Probes for Bio-property Mapping” document released in March 2005, and the commissioned projects report 2004 unless otherwise specified.
