Shedding New Light on Ultrastructure

When visualizing quintessential electron microscopy images in life science research, two different types of images come to mind. One portrays the topographical details of biological surfaces using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), from pollen grains to insect heads to bacteria on infected tissue surfaces. Another type offers two-dimensional insights from thin sections of tissues and cells, revealing the ultrastructure of cells, organelles, and macromolecular complexes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is traditionally used for this type of ultra-resolution 2D imaging, and, to some extent, for 3D imaging of relatively small volumes.

It is still not widely known that the various SEM techniques can also provide compelling, intracellular, ultrastructural information. Additionally, SEM opens possibilities for 3D imaging of larger volumes, which can enable scientists to overcome typical experimental limitations such as limited field-of-view and small sample volume size – to better understand ultrastructural details within a larger 3D context.

As these advanced methods of vEM become easier to use, more and more scientists have the opportunity to reveal parts and processes of biology previously beyond the reach of any imaging modalities.