Dennis C. Winkler, Ph.D., Director
Mission
The NIDCD Advanced Imaging Core (AIC) offers investigators specialized electron microscopy core laboratory support services. The primary goal of the AIC is to support the research interests and ongoing projects of various NIDCD laboratories within the Division of Intramural Research (DIR). The AIC provides specific expertise and resources necessary to assist in the performance of a variety of specialized experiments. The team specializes in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of immunocytochemistry and ultrastructure, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and tomography (cryo-ET), and FIB-SEM tomography. The core offers two modes of operation: collaborating with laboratories on electron microscopy (EM)-related projects or offering training and advice for labs to handle EM themselves.
Services/Techniques
The core provides a range of sample preparation services for conventional and cryo-EM, including:
- Embedding in various types of resin (Epon, Durcupan, Lowikryl, etc.)
- Ultrathin sectioning
- Negative and positive staining
- High pressure freezing
- Freeze substitution
- Plunge freezing
- Focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) specimen preparation
We also provide direct imaging services for a lab’s samples, including:
- Conventional TEM and tomography
- Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM)
- Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET)
- Focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) tomography
Following image acquisition, the core provides the acquired images to the investigator. We can consult on appropriate image analysis and data processing options but do not perform hands-on data analysis or image processing.
Core Resources
JEOL JEM 2100 transmission electron microscope (TEM)
FEI/Thermo Fisher Titan Halo transmission electron microscope (TEM)
TESCAN Amber focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM)
Electron Microscopes
- JEOL JEM 2100 transmission electron microscope (TEM)
- A conventional 200 KV EM with a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) source and Gatan OneView camera that is also cryo-EM capable
- FEI/Thermo Fisher Titan Halo transmission electron microscope (TEM)
- A 300 KV cryo-EM microscope equipped with a field emission gun (FEG) source and Ceta and Falcon 3ec cameras
- TESCAN Amber focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM)
- A dual-beam instrument utilizing a gallium FIB and a field emission gun (FEG) SEM with intermediate resolution between TEM and light microscopy, mainly used for FIB-SEM tomography, a.k.a. volume EM
Additional Equipment
- Gatan 655 turbo pumping station
- Gatan 626 and 914 cryo-transfer holders
- Leica AFS2 automatic freeze-substitution system
- Leica EM CPC plunge freezer
- Leica EM PACT2 high-pressure freezer
- Leica UC7 ultramicrotome
- PELCO easiGlow glow discharge cleaning system
- Thermo Fisher Vitrobot Mark 4+ plunge freezing system