Femtolitre Volume cryoEM Sample Preparation Using a Force-Sensitive Microfluidic Cantilever

In this paper the authors have used a Nanosurf FlexAFM with Cytosurge FluidFM® extension to prepare samples for cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) analysis. CryoEM is a powerful technology to provide structural information on organelles and single proteins, down to the 3D structure of such proteins. However, the vitrification of samples is not trivial, as samples should not dry out and no ice crystals should be formed. Conventionally, a few microliters of sample are deposited, of which >99% is removed in a blotting step. As a result, analysis of material from a single cell is far from trivial.

In this paper a protocol is presented to extract material from single cells, its deposition on EM grids under humidity control and subsequent submersion in liquid ethane for rapid vitrification. The setup exists of a FlexAFM with FluidFM extension placed on an inverted optical microscope with fluorescence capabilities.

The findings have been published in Advanced Materials.

 

V. Shastri, J. Pronk, E. Verlinden, et al. “ Femtolitre Volume cryoEM Sample Preparation Using a Force-Sensitive Microfluidic Cantilever.” Adv. Mater. Technol. (2025): e01333.

AFM data in this publication were obtained with FlexAFM

The FlexAFM has been the instrument of choice for hundreds of researchers in need of a reliable and versatile atomic force microscope system. Built with ease of use and configurability in mind, the capabilities of the FlexAFM cover most research needs: Configure your FlexAFM for 2D materials research in a glovebox, or integrate it with your inverted optical microscope for biological applications - no matter what your research goals are, the Nanosurf FlexAFM provides you with an affordable mid-range instrument that you can expand and upgrade as your requirements evolve.

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