Electron Microscopy Resources

 Leica Ultracut 5 Ultramicrotome/Cryoultramicrotome

Used to cut ultra-thin sections for transmission electron microscopy

• Plastic sections
• Frozen (cryo) sections

Can use glass, diamond or sapphire knives.

 Leica Ultracut 5 Ultramicrotome

Used to cut ultra-thin sections for transmission electron microscopy
Can use glass, diamond or sapphire knives.

 Polaron Critical Point Dryer

Used to dry biological samples for observation on a scanning electron microscope

• Avoids the formation of a liquid/gas interface during the drying process
• Organic solvent (i.e. EtOH or Acetone) is substituted with a liquified gas (CO2) within the sealed chamber.
• The temperature and pressure are then raised above the triple point for CO2 at which point the liquid CO2 transitions from a liquid to a gas throughout the chamber and the sample without the formation of a liquid/gas boundary.
• The gas is then vented and the dried sample removed.

Polaron Sputter Coater

For evaporation of a continuous thin conductive film over a sample destined for the scanning electron microscope

• Uses a gold/palladium target for the coating.
• Uses the noble gas Argon to produce a non-oxidizing poor vacuum to sputter coat through.

Low-Temp UV Polymerization Chamber

Used to polymerize immunocytochemistry samples which have been infiltrated with resins that helps to maximize the antigenicity of the antigens which will be probed for.

• uses dry ice (solid CO2) to maintain a low temperature within the chamber
• uses an ultraviolet (UV) lamp to polymerize the resin
• mostly use acrylic and methacrylic resins formulated to polymerize with UV light
  • LR White
  • LR Gold
  • Lowicryl

Pelco BioWave Pro Microwave Processor

Uses microwaves to speed up the protocols used to prepare samples for the microscope

• does not use heat (not cooking the samples)
• uses the increased molecular motion provided by the microwaves to speed up fluid exchanges and molecular reactions (i.e. fixation)
  • Used to process biological samples for electron microscopy and light microscopy
  • Used to stain sections for the TEM and light microscopy.