Electron Microscopy (EM) Research Services

Description

www.ncl.ac.uk/emrs

The facilities allow high resolution, high magnification imaging of a wide range of specimens from both biological and material sciences.

Experienced staff can provide support in all areas of both transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy including serial block face SEM. As well as offering sample preparation, there is expert advice available for interpretation of images. Specialists can be called upon for advice in areas such as renal ultrastructure, neuroscience and stereology.

Potential customers are welcome to call in to discuss their requirements and see the equipment available. Although a full support service is available, experienced users are also able to use the facility on a self-service basis. Training in all aspects of EM is offered and can be tailored to individual needs – from complete beginners to those requiring a refresher course.

The latest addition to the facility is a Zeiss FEG-SEM with Gatan 3view for serial block face SEM for 3D reconstruction of biological material at the ultrastructural level.

The facility also houses a Philips CM100 Transmission EM with Compustage and digital image capture for visualisation of cellular ultrastructure.

Specialised techniques for TEM: •Negative/positive staining •Freeze substitution •Pre-embedding immunogold •Pre-embedding enzyme histochemistry •Post-embedding immunogold

Typical applications for TEM: •Plant and animal tissue and cell culture •Isolated proteins •Detergent-extracted cytoskeleton and organelles •Bacteria and viruses •Particulate size and distribution in non-biological samples

The facility also houses a new TESCAN Vega LMU SEM which is a fully PC controlled SEM with tungsten heated cathode intended both for high vacuum and low vacuum operations. Scanning electron microscopy allows high resolution imaging of surfaces.

Typical applications for SEM: •Plant and animal tissue •Biofilms •Dental research •Bacteria •MEMS •Quality control

Contact us: EM.researchservices@ncl.ac.uk