Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy Resources

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Web Articles

Daniel Axelrod Laboratory

Dr. Axelrod's group, based in the Department of Biophysics at the University of Michigan, investigates random motion, aggregation, and kinetic behavior of biological molecules at living cell membrane and model membrane surfaces. One of the primary techniques employed by the group is total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, which was largely developed by Dr. Axelrod and his collaborators.

Clive R. Bagshaw Laboratory

Housed in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Leicester, Dr. Bagshaw's research interests include the molecular basis of muscular contraction studied with rapid reaction methodology. He also conducts an active research program in single molecule enzyme kinetics, fluorescence spectroscopy, including total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy.

BioElectroSpec

This corporation develops and manufactures spectroscopic and spectroelectrochemical biosensor systems for detection and control of biospecific protein-protein, receptor-ligand, protein-DNA, DNA-DNA, protein-membrane, and other biomolecular interactions. Their primary technologies are based on TIRF and ultraviolet-visible absorbance spectroscopy.

The Critical Angle

Part of a more extensive physics website entitled "The Physics Classroom", this discussion addresses the critical angle necessary for total internal refection. Specific examples and test questions are included.

Molecular Motors Group

Based at the University of York, this group utilizes single molecule techniques to investigate the mechanisms of molecular motors. Among the techniques employed are total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and laser tweezers.

Radiation pressure from evanescent wave measured

In an article written forOE Reports, British science writer Sunny Bains discusses a method of measuring light pressure to show the forces exerted by an evanescent wave. The system works measuring the 3D displacement of a particle to within a few nanometers and then factoring out other known forces to determine how much of the position change was due to radiation pressure.

Refraction, Snell's Law, and Total Internal Reflection

Sponsored by the Physics Department at Boston University, this site discusses specific details about the basic aspects of light refraction. The principles of Snell's law are covered as well as information about total internal reflection.

William M. Reichert Laboratory

Dr. Reichert's laboratory, located in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, specializes in microscopy investigations utilizing the technique of TIRFM. The primary focus of Dr. Reichert's research is the behavior of proteins and cells at surfaces.

Single Molecule Imaging and Interaction Study Using Evanescent Wave Excitation

Available from International Scientific Communications in portable document format (PDF), this manuscript by X. Fang and W. Tan discusses how to configure a microscope for single molecule image using TIRF.

Synaptic Musings: Optical and biophysical methods allow a closer examination of the “nervous impulse”

Written by Susan Grammer, this article appears on the American Chemical Society website. The nicely written and illustrated text addresses examination of neurotransmitter release by synaptic vesicles using TIRFM.

Lukas K. Tamm Laboratory

Housed in the Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics Department at the University of Virginia, Dr. Tamm's laboratory investigates the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins and their interactions with lipid bilayers. The group employs total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy to study supported model membranes, membrane fusion, and membrane protein folding.

Nancy L. Thompson Laboratory

The primary focus of this laboratory is developing and applying methods in total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Dr. Thompson is located in the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina.