We report a method for studying nanoparticle-biosensor surface interactions based on total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRE) microscopy. We demonstrate that this simple technique allows for high throughput screening of non-specific adsorption (NSA) of nanoparticles on surfaces of different chemical composition. Binding events between fluorescent nanoparticles and functionalized Zeonor (R) surfaces are observed in real-time, giving a measure of the attractive or repulsive properties of the surface and the kinetics of the interaction. Three types of coatings have been studied: one containing a polymerized aminosilane network with terminal -NH2 groups, a second film with a high density of -COOH surface groups and the third with sterically restraining branched poly(ethylene)glycol (PEG) functionality. TIRF microscopy revealed that the NSA of nanoparticles with negative surface charge on such modified coatings decreased in the following order -NH2 > -branched PEG > -COOH. The surface specificity of the technique also allows discrimination of the degree of NSA of the same surface at different pH. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.