Development of a Modular Cryo-Transfer Station for the Side-Entry Transmission Electron Microscope†

Area of Science:

• Cryo-electron microscopy
• Materials science
• Biophysics

Background:

• Cryo-transfer stations are vital for cryo-electron microscopy sample handling.
• Existing stations have limited compatibility with sample holder geometries and electron microscopes.
• High cost and customization difficulties restrict accessibility for research labs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and build a modular, accessible, and customizable cryo-transfer station.
• To address limitations of existing commercial cryo-transfer stations.
• To enable researchers with nonstandard equipment to utilize cryo-transfer technology.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a modular cryo-transfer station using 3D-printed and off-the-shelf components.
• Reconfiguration of the station to fit various microscopes and experimental protocols.
• Testing the station's performance in maintaining cryogenic temperatures and sample transfer, validated by vibrational spectroscopy.

Main Results:

• The new cryo-transfer station is built entirely from 3D-printed and readily available parts.
• The modular design allows reconfiguration for diverse microscopes and experimental workflows.
• Performance in maintaining cryogenic temperatures and transferring frozen vitreous samples is comparable to commercial models.
• Vibrational spectroscopy confirmed the successful transfer of frozen vitreous samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed modular cryo-transfer station offers a cost-effective, customizable, and accessible alternative to commercial models.
• The open-source design promotes wider adoption and further development in the research community.
• This innovation can significantly enhance access to cryo-transfer capabilities for researchers across various disciplines.