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Biological Electron Microscopy

Biological Electron microscopy (EM) is a technique for obtaining high resolution images of biological and non-biological specimens. It is used in biomedical research to investigate the detailed structure of tissues, cells, organelles and macromolecular complexes.

The AIF has obtained several new instruments in recent years to aid in the characterization of biological samples as well as non-biological specimens.


These instruments can aid in the detailed characterization of tissues, cells, organelles and macromolecular complexes as well as other non-biological soft materials such as polymer solutions/gels, oil-water-surfactant emulsions, colloidal dispersions, detergents, and even ice cream!

Other Capabilities

The Leica AFS2 freeze substitution unit is typically used in conjunction with the high pressure freezer. Specimens are fixed and resin-infiltrated at low temperature providing higher quality structural preservation, including specimens suitable for immunolabeling for electron microscopy.

A Tousimis Samdri-795 critical point dryer is available for the dehydration of biological tissue prior to examination in the Scanning Electron Microscope.

The Leica UC7 Cryoultramicrotome at the AIF is able to cut ultrathin frozen sections for biological specimens, which are suitable for transmission electron microscopy examination. The Leica UC7 can also be operated at room temperature to section resin embedded material.

ThermoFisher Cryostar NX50 cryostat can be used to cut 0.5 to 100 µm frozen sections of biological material. The instrument features an 18 position cryobar with a fast freeze station that can rapidly cool specimens as well as a touch screen interface and an ergonomic height adjustment.

Contact Us

Bio Electron Microscopy Staff Scientist – Aaron Bell
Office Phone Number

919-515-2349