Topographical Imaging of Soft Structures of Lipid Membranes at Water–solid Interface by Fluorescence Interferometry

We have developed a modified fluorescence interference contrast microscopy (FICM) that facilitates height measurement of soft structures of lipid membranes in nm-scale. The resolution of the method was examined by measuring depth of micropits on glass substrates covered with bilayer lipid membranes, and then thickness of giant membrane lobes was measured as a practical example of soft structures.