The present invention provides probes functionalized with nanoparticles,
methods for binding nanoparticles to the probes and the use of such
probes in nanometer scale imaging techniques. More specifically, the
present invention provides a tip device having at least a portion thereof
with an outer surface bound to at least one sub-layer of a material
comprising nanoparticles, the nanoparticles acting as donors, acceptors,
modifiers, quenchers and/or enhancers with respect to electromagnetic
radiation.