scholarly journals Guidelines for a Morphometric Analysis of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells by Scanning Electron Microscopy

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3304
Author(s):  
Dominika Czerwińska-Główka ◽  
Katarzyna Krukiewicz

The invention of a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pushed the imaging methods and allowed for the observation of cell details with a high resolution. Currently, SEM appears as an extremely useful tool to analyse the morphology of biological samples. The aim of this paper is to provide a set of guidelines for using SEM to analyse morphology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, taking as model cases Escherichia coli bacteria and B-35 rat neuroblastoma cells. Herein, we discuss the necessity of a careful sample preparation and provide an optimised protocol that allows to observe the details of cell ultrastructure (≥ 50 nm) with a minimum processing effort. Highlighting the versatility of morphometric descriptors, we present the most informative parameters and couple them with molecular processes. In this way, we indicate the wide range of information that can be collected through SEM imaging of biological materials that makes SEM a convenient screening method to detect cell pathology.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heriyanto Tinentang ◽  
Henry F Aritonang ◽  
Harry S. J. Koleangan

Telah dilakukan penelitian tentang kemampuan aktivitas anti bakteri untuk bakteri Staphylococcus aureus (gram positif) dan Escherichia coli (gram negatif) dengan menggunakan nanokomposit nata de coco/TiO2, nata de coco/Ag, dan nata de coco/TiO2/Ag dengan variasi konsentrasi Ag 0,5 M; 0,6 M; 0,7 M; 0,8 M dan 0,9 M  menggunakan metode reduksi kimia. Nanopartikel tersebut dikarakterisasi menggunakan X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy  (SEM-EDS) dan anti bakteri. Untuk uji aktivitas antibakteri menggunakan metode kertas cakram dan dilakukan sebanyak dua kali ulangan untuk tiap-tiap sampel dan bakteri yang diuji. Hasil penelitian menunjukan, aktivitas anti bakteri nanokomposit yang paling baik dalam menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri adalah nanokomposit Nata de coco/TiO2/Ag mampu menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri Escherichiacoli dan Staphylococcusaureus, namun nanokomposit tersebut lebih efektif menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri Escherichiacoli.ABSRACT Research on the ability of anti-bacterial activity for Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive) and Escherichia coli (gram negative) bacteria using nata de coco / nanocomposites TiO2, nata de coco / Ag, and nata de coco / TiO2 / Ag with variations of Ag 0,5 M; 0.6 M; 0.7 M; 0.8 M and 0.9 M using the chemical reduction method. Nanoparticles were characterized using X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spctroscopy  (SEM-EDS) and anti-bacterial actvity. Test the antibacterial activity using the paper disc method and repeated two times for each sample and bacteria tested. The results showed that the good anti-bacterial activity of nanocomposites in inhibiting bacterial growth was nanocomposite nata de coco /TiO2/Ag  able to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and S. aureus, but the nanocomposite is more effective in inhibiting the growth of Escherichia  coli bacteria.


2003 ◽  
Vol 767 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Sikder ◽  
S. Thagella ◽  
P. B. Zantye ◽  
Ashok Kumar

AbstractLower mechanical strength, reduced cohesive strength and lack of compatibility with other interconnect materials, are the major challenges involved in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of Cu metallization with ultra low-k materials as interlayer dielectrics. In this study we have investigated the polishing behavior of patterned Cu samples with underneath different low-k materials using two different slurries and a wide range of machine parameters. CMP micro tribometer was used to polish the samples with different rotations of platen (50 to 250 RPM) and down forces (1-6 PSI). Friction co-efficient and wear behavior were also investigated at different conditions. Optical and scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the polished surface. It was observed that the two different Cu slurries used for polishing have marked effects on the polishing of Cu-low-k stack with respect to wear and delamination.


Metals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Eleonora Santecchia ◽  
Marcello Cabibbo ◽  
Abdel Magid Salem Hamouda ◽  
Farayi Musharavati ◽  
Anton Popelka ◽  
...  

The applications of aluminum and its alloys are still limited by low hardness and low wear resistance properties. Surface modifications, such anodizing and plasma electrolytic oxidation, represent a feasible way to overcome these drawbacks. In this study, discs of AA6082 were subjected to the so-called G.H.A. hard anodizing process leading to an anodized layer having a honeycomb-like structure. Samples having alumina layer thicknesses of 10, 50 and 100 μm were subjected to unidirectional dry sliding wear tests, using bearing steel and silicon nitride as counterbody materials. Surface and structure characterization of the samples were performed before and after the tribological tests, using a wide range of techniques; atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used before the wear tests. The wear scars were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. Results show that the different thickness of the anodized layer does not affect the pores dimensions but has an influence on the micrometric domains in which the pores are divided. These features coupled with the wear test conditions, show to have a strong influence on the wear behavior. The thinnest sample showed also the best performance against the ceramic counterbody.


2014 ◽  
Vol 915-916 ◽  
pp. 933-941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong Jie Zhang ◽  
Chang Yu Lu ◽  
Wei Huang ◽  
Wei Sheng Guan ◽  
Yue Xin Peng

The effective remove to tetracycline still remains a big challenge for scientists. In this work, we used a new method for preparing functional magnetic CNTS with ferrite nanoparticles. A wide range of techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and magnetic measurements were applied to characterize the obtained Fe2O3/CNTs. Moreover, we have also studied the properties of adsorbent to tetracycline. In addition, we have found that the Fe2O3/CNTs are better reusable adsorbent than other traditional adsorbents by magnetic separation recycling method.


PROTOPLASMA ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 251 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Hughes ◽  
Chris Hawes ◽  
Sandy Monteith ◽  
Sue Vaughan

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 522-534
Author(s):  
T. Balinyan ◽  
L. Derecha ◽  
Yu. Nosatenko

The article considers the need for a comprehensive study of biological damage to fibrous materials by scanning electron microscopy. The main types and characteristics of fibers and fibrous materials, their types of damage, in particular, biological, and the mechanism of their formation are described. It is shown that with modern methods for studying morphological characteristics, the most effective is the method of scanning electron microscopy, which makes it possible to directly study the object in a wide range of magnifications. The use of scanning electron microscopy makes it possible to identify qualitatively new volumetric microsigns when conducting studies of fibrous materials. Biological damage agents (biofactors) are considered — microbiological (bacteria, microbes, fungi, blue-green algae), phytological (mosses, lichens, higher plants, algae), zoological (insects, birds, mammals). Attention is focused on the study of injuries caused by mold caused by moths, dogs, etc. Conducting a comprehensive study of various types of damage to materials of various fibrous nature allows us to obtain an information database, the possibility of differentiating chemical, mechanical, thermal and biological damage, identifying microsigns that individualize one or another object (factor) of action, influence, increasing the potential for obtaining trace information about the actual data and circumstances of the event in those cases when only by external morphological features of the diagnosis It is not possible to repair damage. The data obtained indicate the effectiveness of the chosen research area. The results of the studies are positive for creating the optimal research scheme, methods of microscopic studies of damage to materials of fibrous nature in order to solve diagnostic, identification and situational tasks of forensic examination.


Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Tang ◽  
Yi-Liang Li

In this study, the crystal habits of pyrite in the volcanic hot springs from Kamchatka, Russia were surveyed using scanning electron microscopy. Pyrite crystals occur either as single euhedral crystals or aggregates with a wide range of crystal sizes and morphological features. Single euhedral crystals, with their sizes ranging from ~200 nm to ~40 µm, exhibit combinations of cubic {100}, octahedral {111}, and pyritohedral {210} and {310} forms. Heterogeneous geochemical microenvironments and the bacterial activities in the long-lived hot springs have mediated the development and good preservation of the complex pyrite crystal habits: irregular, spherulitic, cubic, or octahedral crystals congregating with clay minerals, and nanocrystals attaching to the surface of larger pyrite crystals and other minerals. Spherulitic pyrite crystals are commonly covered by organic matter-rich thin films. The coexistence of various sizes and morphological features of those pyrite crystals indicates the results of secular interactions between the continuous supply of energy and nutritional elements by the hot springs and the microbial communities. We suggest that, instead of a single mineral with unique crystal habits, the continuous deposition of the same mineral with a complex set of crystal habits results from the ever-changing physicochemical conditions with contributions from microbial mediation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sultanat ◽  
Anam Ansari ◽  
Mohd Qamar ◽  
Shafiullah ◽  
Sartaj Tabassum ◽  
...  

Background: Corticosteroids are important group of polycyclic compounds having a wide range of pharmacological and physiological properties. Thiopyran derivatives are important building blocks of many biologically active compounds. Objective: Keeping in mind the wide range of application of corticosteroid and thiopyran, herein we intend to develop a simple and efficient strategy to synthesize steroidal thiopyran derivatives starting with different commercially available corticosteroid and study their biological property. Materials and Methods: To achieve our aim, we employed a one-pot multicomponent synthesis of steroidal thiopyran derivatives by the reaction of corticosteriods, malononitrile and carbon disulphide in presence of triethyl amine as a catalyst. Results and Discussion : An array of novel thiopyran compounds were obtained with the highest product yield using Et3N. Scanning electron microscopy analysis manifested agglomeration pertaining to brick - shaped crystals of corticosteroid thiopyran. Synthesized compound were also found to be active as antibacterial agents. Conclusion: We describe a facile one-pot multicomponent synthesis of corticosteroid thiopyran derivatives which are found to possess antibacterial activity. Excellent yields of the products, simple work-up, easily available starting materials and non-chromatographic purification are some main advantages of this protocol.


2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 2927-2935 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Pfalzgraff ◽  
R. M. Hulscher ◽  
S. P. Neshyba

Abstract. We present the first clearly resolved observations of surfaces of growing and ablating hexagonal ice crystals using variable-pressure scanning electron microscopy. The ice surface develops trans-prismatic strands, separated from one another by distances of 5–10 μm. The strands are present at a wide range of supersaturations, but are most pronounced at temperatures near the frost point. Pyramidal facets consistent with Miller-Bravais indices of 1011, and possibly also 2021, are associated with ice growth under these conditions. A molecular-dynamics model of a free-standing ice Ih nanocolumn containing 8400 water molecules does not develop trans-prismatic strands, suggesting these features originate at larger spatial or temporal scales. The possible relevance of these surface features to cirrus ice is discussed.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srinivas Ramachandra ◽  
Abdulla Abdal-hay ◽  
Pingping Han ◽  
Ryan Lee ◽  
Saso Ivanovski

<p><strong>Introduction</strong>: Biofilms are 3-dimensional (3D) aggregates of microorganisms that are associated with a wide range of diseases. Although there have been several studies investigating biofilm formation on two-dimensional substrates, the use of 3D substrates may result in more representative and clinically relevant models. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to compare the growth of biofilms in the 3D substrates against biofilms grown in 2D substrates.<br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> Two grams of medical grade polycaprolactone (PCL) were loaded into a plastic Luer-lock 3 ml syringe and a 23G needle was used as a spinneret. The syringe was placed in a melt electro-writing (MEW) device to obtain fine fibers under controlled parameters. The 3-dimensional MEW PCL scaffolds were manufactured and characterised with an overall thickness of ~ 0.8 mm, with ~ 15 μm diameter fibers and ordered pore sizes of either 100 or 250 µm. PCL films employed as 2D substrates were manufactured by dissolving 10 gms of PCL in 100 ml chloroform and stirred for 3 h to obtain a transparent solution. Then, the solution was cast in glass petri dishes and dried to remove all organic solvents. In addition, commercial hydroxyapatite discs were also used as 2D controls. Unstimulated saliva from six healthy donors (gingival health) were used to grow biofilms. The formed biofilms were assessed at day 4, day 7 and day 10 using crystal violet assay, confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and next-generation 16s sequencing.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> The results demonstrates that 3D PCL scaffolds dramatically enhanced biofilm biomass and thickness growth compared to that of the 2D controls. Confocal microscopy of biofilms at day 4 stained with SYTO 9 and propidium iodide showed thickness of biofilms in 2D substrates were 39 µm and 81µm for hydroxyapatite discs and PCL films, respectively. Biofilms in 3D substrates were 250 µm and 338 µm for MEW PCL 100µm pore size and MEW PCL 250 µm pore size, respectively. Similar results were noticed at day 7 and day 10. Scanning electron microscopy showed biofilm bridges formed over the fibers of the MEW scaffolds. Pilot trials of next generation sequencing detected similar taxa in biofilms formed in 3D scaffolds compared to that of 2D substrates.<br /><strong>Discussion:</strong> We have successfully investigated a 3D biofilm growth model using 3D medical grade PCL scaffolds. Thicker biofilms can be conveniently grown using this inexpensive static model. This will facilitate 3D microbial community studies that are more clinically relevant and improve our understanding of biofilm-associated disease processes.</p> <p> </p>


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