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Gold nanoparticle printed coverslips to facilitate fluorescence-TEM correlative microscopy
Neeraj Prabhakar1,2, Anni Määttänen3, Jouko Peltonen3
1Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6A, FI-20520 Turku, Finland.
Microscopy (Oxford, England)
|November 30, 2017
Summary
This study introduces inkjet-printed gold nanoparticle patterns on coverslips to serve as reliable landmarks for correlative microscopy. These patterns enable precise cell tracking, enhancing the efficiency of correlative light and electron microscopy for biological research.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Microscopy Techniques
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) integrates fluorescence and electron microscopy for high-resolution cell imaging.
- Accurate cell tracking is crucial for CLEM but challenging due to the need for precise landmarks.
- Existing methods for cell landmarking may lack sufficient contrast or permanence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, high-contrast landmarking method for correlative microscopy.
- To facilitate precise and reliable tracking of cells throughout the CLEM workflow.
- To improve the efficiency and accuracy of identifying specific cells for ultrastructural analysis.
Main Methods:
- Inkjet printing of gold nanoparticle patterns onto standard glass coverslips.
- Utilizing the high contrast and reflectivity of gold nanoparticles as fiducial markers.
- Integrating these marked coverslips into the CLEM workflow for cell culture and imaging.
- Demonstrating the visibility of patterns in both fluorescence microscopy and post-embedding for transmission electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Successfully created high-contrast, inkjet-printed gold nanoparticle patterns on coverslips.
- Demonstrated that these patterns serve as effective fixed landmarks for fluorescence microscopy-based cell identification.
- Confirmed the visibility of the nano gold patterns within resin blocks, aiding in the identification of cells for transmission electron microscopy sectioning.
- Showcased the utility of the method for precise cell tracking in CLEM.
Conclusions:
- Inkjet-printed gold nanoparticle patterns provide a robust and high-contrast solution for cell landmarking in CLEM.
- This technique simplifies cell tracking, making it easier to locate specific cells for high-resolution ultrastructural analysis.
- The developed method enhances the workflow of correlative microscopy, particularly for studying rare cellular events.
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