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Updated: Aug 29, 2025

Preparation and Observation of Thick Biological Samples by Scanning Transmission Electron Tomography
Published on: March 12, 2017
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy of Biological Structures: An Elusive Goal for Many Years
Andrés Rodríguez-Galván1, Flavio F Contreras-Torres2
1Carrera de Biología, Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla 54090, Edo. Mex., Mexico.
Abstract:
Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a technique that can be used to directly observe individual biomolecules at near-molecular scale. Within this framework, STM is of crucial significance because of its role in the structural analysis, the understanding the imaging formation, and the development of relative techniques. Four decades after its invention, it is pertinent to ask how much of the early dream has come true. In this study, we aim to overview different analyses for DNA, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The relevance of STM imaging is exhibited as an opportunity to assist measurements and biomolecular identification in nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine, biosensing, and other cutting-edge applications. We believe STM research is still an entire science research ecosystem for joining several areas of expertise towards a goal settlement that has been elusive for many years.
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