TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY (TIRF)

Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) ​ is a type of microscopy technique with which a thin region of a specimen, usually less than 200nm can be observed.  A TIRF microscope uses an evanescent wave to selectively illuminate and excite fluorophores in a restricted region of the specimen immediately adjacent to the glass-water interface. The evanescent wave is generated only when the incident light is totally internally reflected at the glass-water interface. The evanescent electromagnetic field decays exponentially from the interface, and thus penetrates to a depth of only approximately 100 nm into the sample medium. Thus the TIRF microscope enables a selective visualization of surface regions such as the basal plasma membrane (which are about 7.5 nm thick) ​of cells.

List of the Euro-BioImaging Node Candidates that offer total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy for interim operation :