Near field methods

Precise kinetic electroanalytical data permit to describe quantitatively the kinetics of the whole process with a precision that has never been achieved before by patch-clamp techniques or spectroscopic near-field methods. This enables to investigate finely these events and to identify the exact physicochemical nature of all the individual physicochemical and biological factors which concur to produce vesicular release. 

Spectroscopic Imaging with Nanometer Resolution Using Near-Field Methods... 

In this chapter, we will review near-field optical methods and their applications to problems in biology and materials science. Near-field techniques provide nanometer spatial resolution by overcoming the Abbe diffraction Hmit, and can be used to investigate many types of sample in situ. Here, emphasis is placed on near-field methods that provide vibrational information (i.e., molecular fingerprints ) of the analytes. Finally, the current challenges faced by these methods and their potential in nanoscale chemical analysis in the near future are discussed. 

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