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Related Concept Videos

Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy01:20

Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy

To be visualized by an electron microscope, either transmission or scanning, biological samples need to be fixed (stabilized) so the electron beam does not destroy them and dried thoroughly (desiccated/dehydrated) so the vacuum does not affect them. Fixation needs to be done as quickly as possible because the sample properties will start changing as soon as it is removed from its natural environment. For example, in a tissue sample, the oxygen levels begin decreasing, causing an altered...
Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...
Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction01:07

Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to determine the 3D structure of biological samples with the help of techniques such as electron microscope tomography and single-particle reconstruction. While single-particle reconstruction can examine macromolecules and macromolecular complexes in vitro conditions only, tomography permits the study of cell components or small cells in vivo.
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
Fixation and Sectioning01:03

Fixation and Sectioning

Two basic types of preparation are used to visualize specimens with a light microscope: wet mounts and fixed specimens.
The simplest type of preparation is the wet mount, in which the specimen is placed in a drop of liquid on the slide. A liquid specimen can be directly deposited on the slide using a dropper. Solid specimens, such as skin scraping, can be placed on the slide before adding a drop of liquid to prepare the wet mount. Sometimes the liquid is simply water, but stains are often added...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Preparation of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Organisms Using Chemical Drying for Morphological Analysis in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
09:58

Preparation of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Organisms Using Chemical Drying for Morphological Analysis in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Published on: January 7, 2019

Chapter 14: Electron microscopy of hydrated samples.

Winston Timp1, Paul Matsudaira

  • 1Whitehead Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.

Methods in Cell Biology
|January 3, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New electron microscopy techniques enable hydrated sample imaging, overcoming traditional preparation challenges. Environmental scanning electron microscopy and wet electron microscopy offer high-resolution biological imaging with easier sample handling.

More Related Videos

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction
09:25

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction

Published on: January 9, 2015

In situ TEM of Biological Assemblies in Liquid
08:28

In situ TEM of Biological Assemblies in Liquid

Published on: December 30, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Preparation of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Organisms Using Chemical Drying for Morphological Analysis in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
09:58

Preparation of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Organisms Using Chemical Drying for Morphological Analysis in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Published on: January 7, 2019

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction
09:25

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction

Published on: January 9, 2015

In situ TEM of Biological Assemblies in Liquid
08:28

In situ TEM of Biological Assemblies in Liquid

Published on: December 30, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Microscopy
  • Biological Imaging
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Conventional electron microscopy provides superior resolution compared to light microscopy.
  • Traditional electron microscopy sample preparation is complex and often destructive.
  • Advances are needed to simplify sample preparation while maintaining high resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and evaluate novel electron microscopy techniques for hydrated samples.
  • To demonstrate the potential of new methods in biological imaging.
  • To overcome limitations of conventional electron microscopy preparation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM).
  • Employing wet electron microscopy techniques.
  • Imaging hydrated biological samples under near-native conditions.

Main Results:

  • Successfully imaged hydrated samples with high resolution.
  • Demonstrated simplified sample preparation procedures.
  • Showcased the capabilities of ESEM and wet electron microscopy for biological applications.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental scanning electron microscopy and wet electron microscopy facilitate high-resolution imaging of hydrated samples.
  • These techniques reduce sample preparation complexity and destructiveness.
  • New possibilities are opened for advanced biological imaging and research.