SNOM on cell thin sections: observation of Jurkat and MDAMB453 cells.

Summary. In this study a comparison of scanning near field optical microscopy with a traditional, well known microscopic technique like transmission electron microscopy is discussed. To establish a reliable and comparable method for high resolution scanning near field optical microscopy imaging of biological samples, tha attention is focussed on thin sections. In particular, we present a study of ultrathin sections of Jurkat T- cells and MDMAB453 cells. We show the relationship among the scanning near field optical microscopy (topographic and optical) images and the kind of embedding medium (resin), the section thikness and the staining of the sample. For a complementary investigation atomic force measurements are carried out, as well. The study reveals that scanning near field optical microscopy techique on opportunely prepared thin sections can be applied successfully for the investigation of the interior of the cells. Scanning near field optical microscopy and transmission electr