About TIRF

TIRF Microscopy, TIRF Spectroscopy, TIRF ElectroChemistry, TIRF Dielectrophoresis, Single Molecule Detection and Manipulation

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TIRF Principles

Principles of TIRF

TIRF employs the phenomena of total internal reflection and evanescent wave shown in the diagrams below

TIRF image of 2 x 2 array of fluorescence assays immobilized at TIRF surface. TIRF rejects the background from the bulk of solution and allows for detecting fluorescence from the surface immobilized assays.

Video of transition between TIRF and epi-fluorescence images of 2 x 2 array.

Epi-fluoresnce image of the same 2 x 2 array of fluorescence assays immobilized at TIRF surface. Due to large background signal from the bulk of solution the array is not detectable.

Typical TIRF Sensogram

Schematics of TIRF-ElectroChemistry (TIRF-EC) System

The surface of TIRF slide is coated with transparent film of indium tin oxide (ITO), which is patterned to obtain several electrodes. In typical TIRF-EC experiment, electric field applied to central ITO electrode controls the behavior of molecules at and near the electrode, while TIRF monitors the behavior.

General View of TIRF Accessory TA1004 Equipped with Electrochemical Control