G01N1/2853

Method of preparing a biological sample for study in a charged particle device
11668720 · 2023-06-06 · ·

The invention relates to a method of preparing a biological sample for study in an analysis device, said method comprising the steps of: providing a biological material to be studied; providing a sample holder that is configured to be placed in said analysis device; and transferring said biological material onto said sample holder for preparing said biological sample. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: acquiring a specimen of said biological material provided on said sample holder; transferring said specimen to a screening device for screening said specimen; and evaluating said biological sample based on results obtained by said screening device. With the method, time and resources may be more effectively used in studying biological samples, for example using charged particle microscopy in the form of cryo-EM.

METHOD OF PREPARING A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE FOR STUDY IN A CHARGED PARTICLE DEVICE
20200132695 · 2020-04-30 · ·

The invention relates to a method of preparing a biological sample for study in an analysis device, said method comprising the steps of: providing a biological material to be studied; providing a sample holder that is configured to be placed in said analysis device; and transferring said biological material onto said sample holder for preparing said biological sample. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of: acquiring a specimen of said biological material provided on said sample holder; transferring said specimen to a screening device for screening said specimen; and evaluating said biological sample based on results obtained by said screening device. With the method, time and resources may be more effectively used in studying biological samples, for example using charged particle microscopy in the form of cryo-EM.

Cell-based composite materials with programmed structures and functions

The present invention is directed to the use of silicic acid to transform biological materials, including cellular architecture into inorganic materials to provide biocomposites (nanomaterials) with stabilized structure and function. In the present invention, there has been discovered a means to stabilize the structure and function of biological materials, including cells, biomolecules, peptides, proteins (especially including enzymes), lipids, lipid vesicles, polysaccharides, cytoskeletal filaments, tissue and organs with silicic acid such that these materials may be used as biocomposites. In many instances, these materials retain their original biological activity and may be used in harsh conditions which would otherwise destroy the integrity of the biological material. In certain instances, these biomaterials may be storage stable for long periods of time and reconstituted after storage to return the biological material back to its original form. In addition, by exposing an entire cell to form CSCs, the CSCs may function to provide a unique system to study enzymes or a cascade of enzymes which are otherwise unavailable.

Cell-Based Composite Materials with Programmed Structures and Functions
20180299357 · 2018-10-18 ·

The present invention is directed to the use of silicic acid to transform biological materials, including cellular architecture into inorganic materials to provide biocomposites (nanomaterials) with stabilized structure and function. In the present invention, there has been discovered a means to stabilize the structure and function of biological materials, including cells, biomolecules, peptides, proteins (especially including enzymes), lipids, lipid vesicles, polysaccharides, cytoskeletal filaments, tissue and organs with silicic acid such that these materials may be used as biocomposites. In many instances, these materials retain their original biological activity and may be used in harsh conditions which would otherwise destroy the integrity of the biological material. In certain instances, these biomaterials may be storage stable for long periods of time and reconstituted after storage to return the biological material back to its original form. In addition, by exposing an entire cell to form CSCs, the CSCs may function to provide a unique system to study enzymes or a cascade of enzymes which are otherwise unavailable.

Shape-preserving transformations of organic matter and compositions thereof

The present invention relates to methods of transforming organic matter into organic-inorganic composites, inorganic replicas, or conductive replicas. Organic matter, such as biological cells and tissue and organs, can be converted into such composites and replicas using the methods described herein. In particular, such methods transform organic matter (into inorganic, organic-inorganic, or conductive constructs), while simultaneously preserving microscopic and/or macroscopic structural detail.

Cell-based composite materials with programmed structures and functions

The present invention is directed to the use of silicic acid to transform biological materials, including cellular architecture into inorganic materials to provide biocomposites (nanomaterials) with stabilized structure and function. In the present invention, there has been discovered a means to stabilize the structure and function of biological materials, including cells, biomolecules, peptides, proteins (especially including enzymes), lipids, lipid vesicles, polysaccharides, cytoskeletal filaments, tissue and organs with silicic acid such that these materials may be used as biocomposites. In many instances, these materials retain their original biological activity and may be used in harsh conditions which would otherwise destroy the integrity of the biological material. In certain instances, these biomaterials may be storage stable for long periods of time and reconstituted after storage to return the biological material back to its original form. In addition, by exposing an entire cell to form CSCs, the CSCs may function to provide a unique system to study enzymes or a cascade of enzymes which are otherwise unavailable.

Electron microscopic observation method for observing biological sample in shape as it is, and composition for evaporation suppression under vacuum, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope used in the method

Provided is an observation method by an electron microscope, in which a biological sample can be observed as it is alive and a situation that the biological sample is moving can be observed using an electron microscope, and a composition for evaporation suppression under vacuum, a scanning electron microscope, and a transmission electron microscope used in the method. The sample observation method by an electron microscope according to the invention includes applying a composition for evaporation suppression containing at least one kind selected from an amphiphilic compound, oils and fats, and an ionic liquid to the surface of a sample to form a thin film, and covering the sample with the thin film, and displaying an electron microscopic image of the sample, which is covered with the thin film and accommodated in a sample chamber under vacuum, on a display device.