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Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
MSL iLab Site

Electron Microscopy

How we will help you

At MSL we will maximize your chances of success by:

  • Consulting with you about your project
  • Preparing your samples for electron microscopy
  • Taking high quality images of your samples using our transmission and/or scanning electron microscopes

Please contact us as early as possible in your project. We support projects that require transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Sample preparation services

Consult our flowchart below for what to expect:

Flowchart showing sample preparation services depending on users client's needs; linking to flowchart pdf.

MSL can prepare samples using the following techniques:

  • Standard sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy
  • Standard sample preparation for scanning electron microscopy
  • Negative staining
  • Immunoelectron microscopy
  • Correlative light and electron microscopy

Equipment

Transmission Electron Microscope – JEOL JEM 1230

Ideal for imaging nanometer resolution subcellular ultrastructure of biological materials.

  • Magnification 50x to 600,000x
  • Resolution: 0.2 nm lattice, 0.36 nm point resolution, high contrast objective pole piece
  • Operating voltage: 80kV
  • Tungsten filament
  • Equipped with Gatan Orius SC1000 CCD camera with Gatan Microscopy Suite version 3.10.1002.0 software

Usually operated by MSL staff. Training may be available, upon request, depending on duration of project.

Scanning Electron Microscope – Zeiss SUPRA 25

Ideal for surface imaging of biological materials at high magnification.

  • Magnification: 20x to 1,000,000x
  • Resolution: 1.7 nm @ 15 kV
  • Detectors:
    • with standard T-E (secondary electron SE2)
    • InLens
    • backscatter detector (BSD)
    • EDX
    • Scanning transmission electron microscopy detector (STEM)
  • Motorized stage holds up to 8 standard samples or 12 STEM samples.
  • Accelerating voltages 0.2kV to 30 KV
  • Stage rotation: 360°
  • Stage tilt: 0-90 degrees
  • Denka TFE Cathode Tip

Usually operated by MSL staff. Training may be available, upon request, depending on duration of project.

Critical Point Dryer – Tousimis Samdri-795

Used for drying water-containing samples with minimal shrinkage and artifacts.

Customized large sample chamber compatible with various sample holders

Typically operated by MSL staff. Training may be available, upon request.

CPD training video

Sputter coater – Cressington 208HR

High resolution sputtering for field emission SEM with gold-palladium or chromium.

  • High resolution sputtering for field emission SEM with gold-palladium or chromium.
  • Equipped with quartz crystal to continuously monitor coating thickness/li>
  • Rotary stage for even distribution of coating materials
  • Adjustable stage tilt during processing
  • Stage that holds 24 SEM pin stubs

Typically operated by MSL staff. Training may be available, upon request.

Sputter coater training video