Open AccessA new cryo‐STEM method for imaging food colloids in the scanning electron microscope
Author(s) -
Gee V. L.,
Carey M. A.,
Auty M. A. E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
scanning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.359
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1932-8745
pISSN - 0161-0457
DOI - 10.1002/sca.20190
Subject(s) - scanning transmission electron microscopy , micelle , scanning electron microscope , transmission electron microscopy , materials science , casein , colloid , microscope , electron microscope , dark field microscopy , field emission microscopy , microscopy , electron tomography , nanotechnology , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , optics , chromatography , diffraction , physics , organic chemistry , composite material , aqueous solution
A new cryo‐scanning transmission electron microscopy (cryo‐STEM) technique for imaging casein micelles in a field emission scanning electron microscope is presented. Thin films of micellar casein suspensions on lacey carbon grids were prepared using a modified sample holder developed by Gatan UK. Bright and dark field images were obtained at −135°C showing casein micelles in their frozen hydrated state and in the size range 30–500 nm. Results were compared favorably with published images of casein micelles obtained with conventional cryo‐transmission electron microscopy, suggesting that cryo‐STEM is a useful alternative technique for visualizing food colloids close to their native state. SCANNING 32: 150–154, 2010. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.