“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

- Arthur C. Clarke

At TEMwindows.com and our parent company SiMPore, Inc., we are developing new products and applications for cell imaging. Recent collaborations have shown the usefulness of our UltraSM® Pure Silicon grids for optical and SEM imaging of cells. Additionally, our current product development efforts show promising application of our pure silicon, nanoporous, ultrathin membrane technology for cell growth and imaging. An overview of these applications is described in further detail in this month’s e-newsletter.

We welcome your feedback and encourage you to contact us at sales@temwindows.com with any questions or suggestions you may have.

Regards,
The TEMwindows.com Team

Cell Imaging on UltraSM® Membranes

The UltraSM® silicon membrane provides a first-in-class combination of imaging and cell growth abilities for optical and electron microscopy. This ultra-thin membrane permits imaging of cells by either light, fluorescent or electron microscopic methods. The millions of nanopores within the membrane allow two cell types on either side of the membrane to communicate with one another. The cells can be physically separated and imaged by optical means due to the excellent optical characteristics of the UltraSM® membrane. Together, these properties make the UltraSM® silicon membrane an ideal substrate for growth and imaging of single or multiple cell-type cultures. For information on cell growth and imaging on UltraSM®, click here.

UltraSM® membranes facilitate co-culture studies and cell imaging studies using confocal microscopy

Growth & Viability of Cells

Cell adhesion to, and observed growth rates on, UltraSM® silicon membranes are equivalent to conventional tissue culture plastic or glass cover slips. The silicon composition of UltraSM® membranes is biocompatible, unlike carbon films on cytotoxic, metallic grids. The native silicon oxide film on the membrane contributes a slight negative charge and a glass-like, cell-friendly surface for attachment and growth.

The nanometer thickness of the UltraSM® silicon membrane is thin enough to allow light and electrons to pass without significant diffraction. The millions of 10-50 nm diameter nanopores within this membrane create a highly permeable film which allows cells grown on either side of the membrane to communicate with diffusible signaling molecules.

For multiple cell-type culture models, the UltraSM® membrane enables co-culture of multiple cell types in a setting where the cells can communicate with one another by short-range signals and be maintained at physiologically meaningful distances across the membrane. Combined with the ability to image and analyze both cells on either side of the membrane, the UltraSM® membrane is an ideal substrate for many co-culture studies.

Optical Characteristics

Intracellular details can be resolved within cells grown on UltraSM® silicon membranes. Typical polymer membranes used for cell culture are too thick to allow detailed resolution of intracellular structures and contribute significant background caused by membrane auto-fluorescence. The silicon composition of UltraSM® membranes eliminates concerns over auto-fluorescence, permitting fluorescent imaging at near-UV excitation and emission.

UltraSM® membranes provide ability to visualize intracellular detail

Electron Microscopy of Cells

Cells can be imaged on UltraSM® silicon membranes using electron microscopy methods as well. The added ability to correlate light, fluorescent and electron microscopy images is possible. The silicon composition of UltraSM® membranes is sufficiently conductive for SEM imaging without any carbon or gold coating and should allow current dissipation to prevent specimen charging under more intense beam currents.

This example shows an image where neutrophils were fixed, dried and imaged by SEM (no staining or gold-sputtering was required). It is also possible to culture cells on the grids prior to imaging. In this case, these neutrophils were pipetted onto the grids prior to preparation.