infocus #42 June 2016 Scratching the Surface: An Overview of SPM

The authors discuss this new form of microscopy that was invented in the 1980’s

DOI: 10.22443/rms.inf.1.139

Having moved away from lenses to profilometry, hence the name scanning probe microscopy. This began with the invention of the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) by Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer in 1981.

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Authors

Dr. Patrick Gunning

Institute of Food Research

Patrick has worked on the development of scanning probe microscopy (SPM) of biological systems at the Institute of Food Research in Norwich for over 22 years. His group were one of the first in Britain to use the original form of scanning probe microscopy, the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) and their research has now moved on to atomic force microscopy (AFM). Patrick is a recognized expert in field of biological AFM and has co-authored an internationally best-selling book on the subject (currently in its second edition). His research areas range from the material science of food ultrastructure to the physiological and biological interactions between food components, the GI tract and the microbiota which inhabit it.

Dr. Colin Grant

University of Bradford

Colin is a Lecturer in Medical Engineering at the University of Bradford. He obtained a B.Eng (Hons) from University of Bradford in Medical Engineering and a PhD in Biophysics from University of Manchester. Main research interests lie in collagen tissues but fascinated by all aspects of anatomy/physiology in health, disease and aging. Current investigations on a wide range of materials including skin tissue, cornea/sclera, cartilage, blood vessels, bone, cancer cells, drug co-crystals, hydrogels & semi-crystalline polymers films.