SE-I Imaging Of Hydrated Multicellular,
Microbial And Bioorganic Systems
R.P. Apkarian,* S.A. Shamsi,1 S.A. Rizvi,1 G.
Benian,2 A.L. Neal,3 J.V. Taylor* S.N. Dublin*
*Integrated
Microscopy & Microanalytical Facility, Emory University, Atlanta,
GA 30322
1Department of Chemistry, Georgia State University, Atlanta,
GA 30302
2Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine,
Atlanta, GA 30322
3Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia,
Aiken, SC 29802
Introduction
Low temperature (LT) preparation of organic species and biological specimens
in small volumes
(< 5 µl) by plunging in liquefied ethane or high pressure freezing
(HPF) ensures rapid cryoimmobilization for subsequent processing and
imaging with cryo-HRSEM. Provided that specimen concentrations are high
enough to act as its own cryoprotectant, hexagonal ice formation may
be avoided and the sample is preserved in the low temperature state.
Subsequent processing by cryogenic fracture, cryo-planing, and high
vacuum sublimation (etching) relieve surfaces for structural analysis
in the nanometer range. Successful LT processing is completed by application
of a thin monoatomic chromium (Cr) film that enriches the SE-I contrast
for high resolution cryo-HRSEM recordings.
SREL
Reprint #2980
Apkarian, R. P., S. A. Shamsi, S. A. Rizvi, G. Benian, A. L. Neal, J. V. Taylor, S. N. Dublin. 2006. Cryoetch And Cryo-planing For Low Temperature HRSEM: SE-I Imaging Of Hydrated Multicellular, Microbial And Bioorganic Systems. Microscopy and Microanalysis 12(Supp 2): 1120-1121.
