Note: Intro -- Preface -- Contents -- Contributors -- 1 Introduction to Single-Molecule Analysis and Computation: The Focus Project -- References -- 2 Computer-Generated Holographic Beams for the Investigation of the Molecular and Circuit Function -- Abstract -- 1…Introduction -- 2…Background and Computational Aspects in CGH -- 2.1 Computation of the Phase Maps -- 3…Hardware for CGH: LCoS-SLM -- 3.1 LCoS-SLM: Working Principle -- 3.2 LCoS-SLM: Temporal Features and Overdriving Procedures -- 3.3 LCoS-SLM: Design of the Device -- 3.4 LCoS-SLM: Optical Properties -- 4…Optical Configurations for CGH -- 4.1 Basic Configuration for CGH -- 4.2 Integration of CGH into Imaging Systems -- 4.3 Optical Figures of CGH -- 4.4 Peculiar Aspects of CGH Beams for Bidimensional Extended Patterns -- 5…Applications and Perspective for CGH -- References -- 3 Super-Resolution Fluorescence Optical Microscopy: Targeted and Stochastic Read-Out Approaches -- Abstract -- 1…Introduction -- 2…Toward Super-Resolution Imaging of Thick ( greaterthan 50 Mu m) Biological Specimens -- 3…Single-Molecule Localization Techniques (Palm-Like) -- 4…Stimulated Emission Depletion (Sted-Like) -- 5…Perspective Note -- References -- 4 Superhydrophobic Devices Molecular Detection -- Abstract -- 1…Introduction -- 1.1 Single-Molecule Detection -- 1.2 Superhydrophobic Surfaces -- 2…Fabrication -- 2.1 Superhydrophobic Pillared Substrates -- 2.2 Polymeric Superhydrophobic Substrates -- 3…Applications -- 3.1 Molecular Detection of Organic and Inorganic Sample's Structural Information Through In-situ X-ray Diffraction -- 3.2 Superhydrophobic Substrate for Raman Detection -- 3.3 Superhydrophobic Substrates for Background-Free TEM DNA Characterization and for Nucleic Acid Pattern Generation -- References -- 5 Tip-Assisted Optical Nanoscopy for Single-Molecule Activation and Detection -- Abstract. , 1…An Overview -- 1.1 A Brief History of the Tip-Assisted Technique -- 2…Theoretical Background -- 2.1 The Evanescent Field -- 2.2 Localized Surface Plasmon Tip -- 2.3 Plasmonic Antenna Tip -- 3…Experimental Setups and Methods -- 3.1 Tips and Tips Engineering -- 3.2 Microscopes Design -- 4…Applications of TERS -- References -- 6 DNA as Nanostructuring Element for Design of Functional Devices -- Abstract -- 1…Introduction -- 2…DNA-Directed Immobilization: Use of Chemically Synthesized Short DNA -- 2.1 DNA as an Immobilization Tool -- 2.2 DNA--Nanoparticle Conjugates -- 3…DNA Origami: Combination of Natural and Chemically Synthesized DNA -- 4…DNA in Design of Thin Films and Optoelectronic Devices: Use of DNA from Natural Sources -- 5…DNA-Based Materials -- 5.1 DNA-Based Hydrogels -- 5.2 DNA-Polymeric Hybrid Materials -- 5.3 DNA Side-Chain Polymers -- 6…Conclusion -- References -- 7 Fast Force Clamp in Optical Tweezers: A Tool to Study the Kinetics of Molecular Reactions -- Abstract -- 1…Single-Molecule Mechanics with Optical Tweezers -- 2…The Dual-Laser Optical Tweezers -- 2.1 Mounting the Specimen in the Experimental Chamber Between the Force and Length Transducers -- 2.2 Calibration of Force -- 2.3 Mechanical Protocols: Length Versus Force Clamp -- 3…Transition Kinetics of the DNA Elongation Revealed by Force Steps -- 4…The Structure of the DNA Overstretching Transition -- 5…Assessing the Force Clamp Description of DNA Overstretching Kinetics: Comparison Between Non-equilibrium and Equilibrium Results -- A.x(118). Appendix: Influence of Viscosity on the Kinetics of the Elongation--Untwisting of the ds-DNA During the Overstretching Transition -- A.x(118).0 Drag Produced on the Trapped Bead by the Viscosity of the Medium -- A.x(118).0 Rotational Drag of the Molecule While Untwisting -- References. , 8 Investigating Adhesion Proteins by Single Cell Force Spectroscopy -- Abstract -- 1…Introduction -- 2…Force-Spectroscopy Measurements and Experimental Details -- 3…Analysis of Force-Distance Curve -- 4…The Advantages of SCFS in the Study of Single Adhesion Proteins -- 5…Quantifying Cell Adhesion at Single Molecule Scale -- 6…Future Perspectives -- References -- 9 Photoswitchable Ion Channels and Receptors -- Abstract -- 1…Introduction -- 2…Pentameric Ligand-Gated Receptors -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors (nAChR) -- 2.3 Ionotropic gamma -Aminobutyric Acid Receptor (GABAA) -- 3…Tetrameric Ligand-Gated Receptors -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Kainate Receptors -- 3.3 AMPA Receptors -- 3.4 Bacterial iGluRs -- 3.5 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors -- 3.6 Applications -- 4…Trimeric Ligand-Gated Receptors -- 5…Potassium Channels -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Kv Family -- 5.2.1 2P-Potassium Channels -- 6…Transient Receptor Potential Channels -- 7…Future Challenges -- References -- 10 The Use of Light-Sensitive Organic Semiconductors to Manipulate Neuronal Activity -- Abstract -- 1…Introduction -- 2…Optical Techniques Modulating Neuronal Activity -- 3…Organic Semiconductive Polymers -- 4…Modulation of Membrane Potential Using Light-Sensitive Polymers -- 5…Application of Organic Photovoltaic Devices in Retinal Degenerative Diseases -- 6…Future Research Direction -- 7…Conclusions -- References -- 11 Probing the Lateral Diffusion of Individual Neurotransmitter Receptors -- Abstract -- 1…Introduction -- 2…Measuring the Lateral Diffusion of Neurotransmitter Receptors -- 2.1 Population Diffusion Measurements -- 2.2 Single-particle Tracking Techniques -- 3…Role of Receptor Diffusion in Long-Term Synaptic Plasticity -- 4…Implications of Receptor Diffusion in Fast Synaptic Signaling -- 5…Future Perspectives -- References.