Transmission electron microscope (TEM) tomography provides three-dimensional images at the nanometer scale. It is a mainstream technique in biological electron microscopy, and is rapidly finding applications in the semiconductor and nanotechnology industries. In biology, scientists are interested in producing faithful tomograms of frozen-hydrated samples, since specimens prepared in this way are considered to represent the native in vivo structure. In the case of typical mammalian cells and tissue, such specimens are usually high- pressure frozen, and then prepared for electron tomography using cryo-ultramicrotomy. However the difficulties of cryo-ultramicrotomy, and the artifacts that are unavoidably created by mechanical sectioning, have discouraged most laboratories from attempting study of frozen-hydrated cells and tissue by electron tomography. Preliminary work by our Wadsworth collaborators has shown that use of a cryo-FIB system avoids the artifacts and difficulties of cryo-ultramicrotomy, and offers additional advantages in preparing frozen-hydrated specimens.
Public Health Relevance: This proposal will develop tools that allow biologists to get a clearer picture of the structure and function of the cell. This knowledge is fundamental to innumerable areas of medical research and practice.
Public Health Relevance Statement: Project narrative: This proposal will develop tools that allow biologists to get a clearer picture of the structure and function of the cell. This knowledge is fundamental to innumerable areas of medical research and practice.
NIH Spending Category: Bioengineering
Project Terms: 3-D; 3-D Imaging; 3-Dimensional; 3D imaging; Area; Artifacts; Award; Biological; Biology; Body Tissues; Cell Components; Cell Function; Cell Process; Cell Structure; Cell physiology; Cells; Cellular Function; Cellular Physiology; Cellular Process; Cellular Structures; Communities; Complex; Computer Programs; Computer software; Coupling; Crowding; Custom; Data Collection; Development; Devices; Documentation; Educational Mainstreaming; Electron Beam; Electron Microscope; Electron Microscopy; Freezing; Generations; Hour; Ice; Image; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; In Situ; Industry; Interruption; Ions; Knowledge; Laboratories; Lifting; Liquid substance; Location; Mainstream Education, achievement; Mainstreaming; Mainstreaming (Education); Mammalian Cell; Manuals; Mechanics; Medical Imaging, Three Dimensional; Medical Research; Metals; Methods; Methods and Techniques; Methods, Other; Modeling; Modification; Morphologic artifacts; N element; N2 element; Nanoscale Science; Nanotechnology; Nitrogen; Operation; Operative Procedures; Operative Surgical Procedures; Organelles; Phase; Position; Positioning Attribute; Preparation; Pressure; Pressure- physical agent; Proteins; Research; Research Specimen; Resolution; Risk; SBIR; SBIRS (R43/44); Sampling; Scientist; Semiconductors; Side; Site; Small Business Innovation Research; Small Business Innovation Research Grant; Software; Specimen; Staging; Structure; Subcellular Process; Surface; Surgical; Surgical Interventions; Surgical Procedure; System; System, LOINC Axis 4; TOMO; Techniques; Temperature; Thick; Thickness; Three-Dimensional Imaging; Time; Tissues; Tomogram; Transmission; Ultramicrotomy; Universities; Vibration; Vibration - physical agent; Work; Writing; base; biological research; computer program/software; cost; design; designing; electron tomography; experiment; experimental research; experimental study; flexibility; fluid; gene product; imaging; improved; in vivo; instrument; interest; light microscopy; liquid; meetings; nano meter scale; nano meter sized; nano scale; nano scale Science; nano tech; nano technology; nanometer scale; nanometer sized; nanoscale; nanotech; pressure; prototype; public health relevance; reconstruction; research study; surgery; tomography; tool; transmission process; vibration
