BME1410H Electron Microscopy of Proteins, Cells, and Tissue

Streams

Molecular Engineering, Cell & Tissue Engineering

Sessions

Winter

Description

Electron microscopy is an important tool in the field of biology and biomaterials. By delving into the nanoscale, the ultrastructure of cells and tissues can be observed. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the surface topography is observed to distinguish cell morphology, bio-integration to biomaterials or implants, and extracellular matrix organization. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) changing within the cell are observed at the organelle level. Further testing the limits of resolution, cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) is used to image proteins with angstrom resolution. This course provides a comprehensive deep-dive into the theory and application of TEM, cryoEM, and SEM. Students will explore the interaction of electrons with organic matter, focusing on overcoming the inherent challenges of imaging low-contrast, beam-sensitive biological samples. Sample preparation and imaging will be discussed in theory and demonstrated in hands-on lab time. Students will be grouped into the imaging modality of their interest:

SEM
Negative stain TEM of small particles
Cell/tissue embedding TEM
CryoEM

Students are encouraged to bring samples from their research lab to image. Model samples (e.g., adeno virus, cell pellets, cells on coverslip) will also be provided. Image analysis methods will be discussed and practiced using both conventional object picking and qualitative phenotype scoring methods.

Prerequisites

None

Components

Lecture, Practical

Restrictions