Surface visualisation of bacterial biofilms using neutral atom microscopy

The scanning helium microscope (SHeM) is a new technology that uses a beam of neutral helium atoms to image surfaces non-destructively and with extreme surface sensitivity. Here, we present the application of the SHeM to image bacterial biofilms. We demonstrate that the SHeM uniquely and natively visualises the surface of the extracellular polymeric substance matrix in the absence of contrast agents and dyes and without inducing radiative damage.