The field of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) presents numerous challenges, particularly when working with low-contrast and ultra-thin samples using liquid cells. Graphene liquid cells have provided a significant breakthrough in this field by enabling high contrast and resolution imaging. Nevertheless, the preparation of these cells can be a tedious and time-consuming process. The Vitrotem team has addressed this issue by developing an innovative solution called Naiad, an automated graphene liquid cell system.
Professor Nico Sommerdijk, a Bone Biochemistry expert and Director of the Electron Microscopy Center at the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences in the Netherlands, has expressed his support for Naiad in his research. Professor Sommerdijk’s study on the mineralization of collagen in bones required high-resolution images of thin and long collagen fibers, which were difficult to capture in liquid cells.
The Positive Experience
Vitrotem approached Professor Sommerdijk to use their automated system, promising to significantly improve the preparation process of graphene liquid cells for his research. With the assistance of Naiad, Professor Sommerdijk and his team were able to achieve high-quality images of collagen fibers in Graphene Liquid Cells. The automated system made the process more accessible and allowed researchers to obtain high-quality samples without the need for special sample holders. Professor Sommerdijk expressed his surprise at both the excellent results and the user-friendly nature of the machine, emphasizing that “You simply place a grid and your solution, and the machine does the rest for you.”
The Impact of Naiad
The impact of Naiad on Professor Sommerdijk’s research has been significant. He presented his initial results with the automated assembly at a conference in the USA, where attendees were enthusiastic about the results they could now achieve. Professor Sommerdijk affirms that “Now your LCTEM sample can go under any microscope around the world, of any make-up, and you don’t need to do anything special. And what is also amazing is, they stay aqueous for weeks so you can use this sample for a very long time.”
Professor Sommerdijk’s positive experience with Naiad exemplifies the potential of automated Graphene Liquid Cells in scientific research. With this technology, scientists can obtain high-quality images of thin and delicate samples without the need for special sample holders.
Changing the approach of graphene liquid cell electron microscopy
Naiad has made the process more accessible and user-friendly, allowing researchers to focus on their research questions rather than on the manual preparation of graphene liquid cells. Naiad is a revolutionary tool that is changing the way scientists approach graphene liquid cell electron microscopy. Professor Sommerdijk’s positive experience with the automated system demonstrates the potential of this technology in scientific research. Watch the full interview below:
