Novel microchip for in situ TEM imaging of living organisms and bio-reactions in aqueous conditions.

Liu, Kuo-Liang; Wu, Chien-Chen; Huang, Ying-Jung; Peng, Hwei-Ling; Chang, Hwan-You; Chang, Pin; Hsu, Long; Yew, Tri-Rung · Lab Chip · 2008

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A novel and disposable microchip (K-kit) with SiO(2) nano-membranes was developed and used as a specimen kit for in situ imaging of living organisms in an aqueous condition using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) without equipment modification. This K-kit enabled the successful TEM observation of living Escherichia coli cells and the tellurite reduction process in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The K. pneumoniae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae can stay alive in K-kit after continuous TEM imaging for up to 14 s and 42 s, respectively. Besides, different tellurite reduction profiles in cells grown in aerobic and anaerobic environments can be clearly revealed. These results demonstrate that the K-kit developed in this paper can be useful for observing living organisms and monitoring biological processes in situ.

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