Ultra-thin resin embedding method for scanning electron microscopy of individual cells on high and low aspect ratio 3D nanostructures.

摘要: The preparation of biological cells for either scanning or transmission electron microscopy requires a complex process fixation, dehydration and drying. Critical point drying is commonly used samples investigated with beam, whereas resin-infiltration typically microscopy. may cause cracks at the cellular surface sponge-like morphology nondistinguishable intracellular compartments. Resin-infiltrated result in solid block resin, which can be further processed by mechanical sectioning, however that does not allow top view examination small cell-cell cell-surface contacts. Here, we propose method removing resin excess on before effective polymerization. In this way to embedded an ultra-thin layer epoxy resin. This novel highlights contrast standard methods imaging individual only nanostructured planar surfaces but also topologically challenging substrates high aspect ratio three-dimensional features