Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy - Related Videos
03:22
Investigating a Zebrafish Larval Brain Injury Using Large-Scale Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
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2025
This video demonstrates a method to investigate zebrafish larval brain injury using large-scale scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), a technique that combines elements of both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to produce high-resolution images. It outlines the steps involved in preparing samples and the acquisition of high-resolution STEM images to identify brain injury.
10:09
Large-scale Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (Nanotomy) of Healthy and Injured Zebrafish Brain
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Cited by 31 •
2016
Large-scale 2D electron microscopy (EM), or nanotomy, is the tissue-wide application of nanoscale resolution EM. Here we describe a universal method for nanotomy applied to investigate the zebrafish larval brain in health and upon non-invasive brain injury.
08:57
Focussed Ion Beam Milling and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Brain Tissue
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Cited by 105 •
2011
This protocol describes how resin embedded brain tissue can be prepared and imaged in the three dimensions in the focussed ion beam, scanning electron microscope.
09:20
Microwave Assisted Rapid Diagnosis of Plant Virus Diseases by Transmission Electron Microscopy
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Cited by 16 •
2011
This study describes a method that allows the rapid and clear diagnosis of plant virus diseases in about half a day by using a combination of microwave assisted plant sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy and negative staining methods.
11:41
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
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2023
Source: Laboratory of Dr. Andrew J. Steckl — University of Cincinnati A scanning electron microscope, or SEM, is a powerful microscope that uses electrons to form an image. It allows for imaging of conductive samples at magnifications that cannot be achieved using traditional microscopes. Modern light microscopes can achieve a magnification of ~1,000X, while typical SEM can reach magnifications of more than 30,000X. Because the SEM doesn’t use light to create images, the resulting pictures it...
FAQs
A focused electron beam examines the specimen point by point rather than illuminating the entire field at once. At each position, transmitted electrons are collected, and the resulting signal is assigned to that location in the image. Differences in signal across the scan create contrast, allowing nanoscale variations in cellular or molecular structure to become visible.
Electrons scattered through different angles carry complementary information about the specimen. Variations in these signals can reflect differences in mass, thickness, composition, or atomic arrangement. Separating the detected electrons by scattering behavior therefore helps distinguish structural features that may not produce the same response in a single transmitted-electron measurement.
Signal variations can indicate whether one region differs from another in mass, thickness, composition, or atomic organization. In biological specimens, these differences may help resolve membranes, protein complexes, cellular ultrastructure, or interfaces with nanoparticles. Interpretation depends on relating the detected electron response to the structural feature being examined.
Imaging primarily shows where nanoscale structural features occur, while elemental or spectroscopic analysis adds information about composition. Combining these approaches links morphology with the chemical or material characteristics associated with a region. In biology and biomaterials research, that connection can clarify how structure and composition vary together at cellular, molecular, or interface-level sites.
Biological STEM investigations can use preserved specimens or sectioned samples, provided the material is sufficiently thin for transmitted-electron detection. This makes it possible to examine cellular ultrastructure, membranes, protein complexes, nanoparticles, and interfaces within prepared biological material. The selected specimen form determines which structural context remains available for nanoscale observation.
A basic workflow places a thin specimen in the microscope, focuses the electron beam, scans it across the selected area, and records transmitted-electron signals as the beam advances. Detectors capture electrons scattered at different angles, and the collected measurements are converted into an image. Additional elemental or spectroscopic measurements can then support compositional interpretation.
STEM is useful when researchers need nanoscale information about preserved or sectioned biological material. It can reveal cellular ultrastructure, membranes, protein complexes, and interfaces involving nanoparticles, while combined analysis can connect those features with composition. These capabilities support investigations of disease-related structural changes, biomaterials, and molecular organization.
The method can provide more than a map of nanoscale morphology. Its signals may distinguish differences in mass, thickness, composition, or atomic arrangement, and complementary elemental or spectroscopic analysis can associate those differences with material characteristics. Consequently, studies can relate visible ultrastructural organization to composition in cells, protein assemblies, nanoparticles, or biomaterial interfaces.