Microscopy & Microtechniques
New Cryo-correlative Microscopy Stage Greatly Improves Workflows
Feb 02 2017
Linkam has been developing cryo stages for correlative microscopy for many years and continues to be at the forefront of cryo correlative microscopy with the latest update of their LINK software for the CMS196M, providing improved imaging capabilities and the new liquid nitrogen autofill system providing longer run times.
Cryo-correlative microscopy has become an established technique in recent years. It brings together the strengths of both electron and light (fluorescence) microscopy. Electron microscopy (EM) provides structural information at very high resolution. However, it can give only restricted insight into biological and chemical processes due to limitations in staining and sample preparation processes. On the other hand, fluorescence microscopy is an extremely sensitive technique to detect biological, chemical and genetic processes as well as events inside living cells.
Cryo-CLEM brings it all together: combining the individual advantages from both fluorescence and EM by imaging the same sample location with both techniques and superimposing the complementary information.
For biological samples to be compatible with the vacuum conditions found in EM and preserve the structural detail, samples are embedded in vitrified ‘glass like’ ice and need to be kept below -140°C. Any contact with moisture contained in the air has to be avoided since ice crystals would form immediately and contaminate the sample. Under cryo-conditions, the fluorescence signals providing structural detail is preserved and photo bleaching is significantly reduced.
LINK software for the CMS196 provides complete control and monitoring of the system as well as fully-automated tiled image capture. The integrated, encoded, high resolution motorised XY stage gives the ability to capture an image of the entire EM grid at full resolution. Shown below, the system produces a single image of the EM grid that can then be used to navigate the sample and save co-ordinates of areas of interest making it easy to image the same area when the sample is transferred to the EM. In addition, LINK can now be supplied with an extremely cost effective, high sensitivity monochrome camera ideal for low light fluorescence imaging.
Digital Edition
ILM 49.5 July
July 2024
Chromatography Articles - Understanding PFAS: Analysis and Implications Mass Spectrometry & Spectroscopy Articles - MS detection of Alzheimer’s blood-based biomarkers LIMS - Essent...
View all digital editions
Events
Jul 28 2024 San Diego, CA USA
Jul 30 2024 Jakarta, Indonesia
Jul 31 2024 Chengdu, China
ACS National Meeting - Fall 2024
Aug 18 2024 Denver, CO, USA
Aug 25 2024 Copenhagen, Denmark