FluidFM literally brings microfluidics to the tip of an AFM cantilever. This way, it combines the microfluidics with the force sensitivity and positional accuracy of an AFM allowing a range of exciting applications in single-cell biology and nanoscience.
Nanosurf has a long experience providing AFM systems with FluidFM having launched the FlexAFM with FluidFM in 2011 together with Cytosurge AG. This integration of FluidFM on Nanosurf platforms has grown in time and now the FluidFM technology available for DriveAFM, FlexAFM, and CoreAFM platforms.
How does FluidFM work?
At the heart of the technology lies a hollow cantilever with an aperture at the tip, through which fluids are delivered or withdrawn. Liquid is filled into a small reservoir attached to the cantilever. Air pressure is applied to the other side of the reservoir through tubing, propelling the liquid through the channel in the cantilever and out of the aperture at the tip. By controlling the pressure and the flow rate of the liquid, FluidFM can be used to perform a wide range of tasks, including printing, dispensing, and probing.
The AFM component of FluidFM allows for precise positioning and force measurements at the nanoscale level. The microfluidic component allows for precise control of the amount and location of the liquid being delivered or withdrawn.
The combination of these capabilities allow for the manipulation of individual cells, bacteria, or other biological structures, as well as to deposit and remove materials with high accuracy, making it a powerful tool for a variety of applications in life sciences, materials science, and nanotechnology.
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