SNOTRA^TM - Scanning Probe Microscope with Cryo-Ultramicrotome

SNOTRA^TM - unique research systems combining SPM and cryoultramicrotome. This system has no analogs and is intended for study and reconstruction of 2D- and 3D –morphology and properties of polymer, biological materials, and colloidal systems (nanoliquids) just after ultrathin section at low temperatures. This technique allows obtain qualitatively new information on the physical and structural properties of biological and polymeric materials at the level of individual macromolecular components and study of three-dimensional nanostructures in the bulk materials.

SNOTRATM with Leica UC6

Concept: The basic concept of the SNOTRATM combined system is SPM-measurement of Block-Face of the samples after cutting off instead of “slices” traditionally used for TEM. This eliminates the need to transfer the sections in the optical or electron microscope, but the opportunity to study sections with the electronic and optical microscope to compare the different methods of research is still available.

Performing sections at low temperatures (-196°C) allows us to study a number of objects and materials for which such studies were previously impossible, such as:

Biological (cellular) samples structure with maximal safety (through high pressure freezing – vitrifying); Polymers structure – soft polymers, rubbers, elastomers, latexes, etc; Micro- or nanoemulsions and hydrated structures.

The SNOTRA^TM avoids of the traditionally detected artefacts caused by:

• Electron (EM) and ion (FIB) beam damage;
• Shrinkage and local dimensional changes affected by dehydration (under EM vacuum conditions);
• Structural changes generated by “time gap” during sample preparation and microscopic study.

SPM installed in Cryochamber Microtome

Components: Specialized Cryo-SPM head CERTUS CRYO; Ultramicrotome with Cryochamber; Drive digital controller EG-3000TM; Software NSpecTM.

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VECOR 101 Duranzo Aisle, Irvine, CA92606, USA
Phone: +1-949-394-4466, Fax: +1-949-451-6813, info@vecorus.com