Brian Choi, Bio-application scientist
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Reference: Bing-Chen L., Douglas C. E., Heping M. (2013) SICM a nanotechnology for biological studies in live cells.
Frontiers in physiology. Vol 3. article 483

Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) is a powerful tool to study and investigate cell function and important physiological processes related to specialized features on the cell membrane. SICM can visualize specialized structures such as microvilli, cilia, endocytic pits, and tight junctions of apical membranes of epithelial cells in physiological conditions. Conventionally, such delicate cell structures are observable only in fixed and dehydrated status using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. However, to understand cell function and facilitate the study of important physiological processes, the direct observation of fine structures in living cell membranes is vital.

• Study specialized cell membrane structures such as microvilli, cilia, endocytic pits, and tight junction
• Investigate cell function and important physiological process, related with such specialized structures on cell membrane

SICM allows researchers to observe the fine structural and functional changes of membranes in living tissue. Investigating such structures with SICM reveals many new facts. For example, multiple microvilli can either form ridges or break into small isolated structures. In addition, the height of microvilli can be rearranged in response to cell volume changes. Also, the morphological changes of tight junctions occur after hypertonic stress. The role of tight junctions is known to maintain epithelial monolayer integrity. The images shown below, taken by a Park SICM, clearly describe such fine structures of microvilli, cilia, endocytic pits, and tight junctions in mouse cortical collecting duct mpkCCDc14 cells.

Specialized Cell Membrane Structures

Park Cell Analysis Systems

	Park NX12-Bio	Park NX10	Park XE7
Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy (SICM)
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) with liquid probe hand
Inverted Optical Microscopy (IOM)
Live Cell Chamber