Representation of the AFM micropipette frontloading procedure.

Schematic illustration of (a) volume delivery on top of the probe holder by using a pipette, (b) loading position of the AFM scan head in the liquid above a chucked coverslip for frontloading (the lamellar liquid film reduces contamination of the entire clip), (c) zoom-in of (b) illustrating the frontloading process at the micropipette opening using low pressure (the black arrows indicate the running direction of the liquid), (d) dispensing of small liquid droplets onto a glass coverslip surface after successful frontloading procedure.