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Related Concept Videos

Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy01:20

Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy

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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...
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Fixation and Sectioning01:03

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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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Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

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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...
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Rapid Freezing using Sandwich Freezing Device for Good Ultrastructural Preservation of Biological Specimens in Electron Microscopy
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Preparation of Cross-Sectional Membrane Samples for Scanning Electron Microscopy Characterizations Using a New Frozen

Hongyun Ren1,2, Xian Zhang1,2, Yi Li3

  • 1Center of Analytical Instrument, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.

Membranes
|July 28, 2023
PubMed
Summary

A new frozen section technique simplifies preparing polymeric membrane cross-sections for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This efficient, low-cost method improves membrane characterization and accelerates membrane technology development.

Keywords:
embedding mediumembedding moldfrozen section techniquepolymeric membranepreparation of membrane cross-sectionsscanning electron microscopy

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Analytical Chemistry

Background:

  • Accurate characterization of polymeric membrane cross-sections is vital for understanding structure-performance relationships.
  • Preparing flat, defect-free surfaces for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is challenging due to the toughness of non-woven fabric supports.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel, efficient, and low-cost method for preparing cross-sectional polymeric membrane samples.
  • To optimize parameters for a new frozen section technique for membrane sample preparation.

Main Methods:

  • A self-designed mold was used to embed membranes orientationally.
  • Frozen section parameters, including embedding medium (ultrapure water), cryostat temperature (-30 °C), and sectioning thickness (0.5 µm), were optimized.
  • The developed frozen section technique was compared with conventional liquid nitrogen cryogenic fracture and broad ion beam (BIB) polishing.

Main Results:

  • The optimized frozen section technique successfully produced flat cross-sectional membrane samples suitable for SEM.
  • SEM characterizations confirmed the efficiency of the frozen section method.
  • The frozen section technique was found to be efficient and low-cost compared to other methods.

Conclusions:

  • The developed frozen section technique is an effective and economical approach for preparing cross-sectional polymeric membrane samples.
  • This method can accelerate advancements in membrane technology.
  • The technique shows potential for preparing other types of solid samples.