Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Preparation and Observation of Thick Biological Samples by Scanning Transmission Electron Tomography
Published on: March 12, 2017
Application of scanning tunneling microscopy to structural biology
1Department of Chemistry, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131.
Abstract:
Scanning tunneling microscopy offers the possibility of visualizing biological molecules in conditions similar to those in vivo with molecular resolution. Images of DNA and various proteins have been obtained, but insufficient conductivity through, and inhomogeneous and unstable adsorption of the biomolecules continue to prevent reliable imaging. Applying a metal coating to samples, to separate the conductivity and deposition problems has yielded satisfactory deposition procedures in various laboratories, but extension of this protocol to high resolution imaging of macromolecules has yet to be demonstrated. In this paper we present a review of the main results obtained in our laboratory, which illustrate the main problems encountered by investigators attempting to image metal-coated and uncoated biological specimens.
More Related Videos
11:33All-electronic Nanosecond-resolved Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Facilitating the Investigation of Single Dopant Charge Dynamics
Published on: January 19, 2018
10:28Probing the Structure and Dynamics of Interfacial Water with Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy
Published on: May 27, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Studying the Cytoskeleton
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
Cryo-electron Microscopy
Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
Overview of Microscopy Techniques