Scanning transmission ion micro-tomography (STIM-T) of biological specimens

Michael Schwertner; Arthur Sakellariou; Tilo Reinert; Tilman Butz

doi:10.1016/j.ultramic.2006.02.003

Scanning transmission ion micro-tomography (STIM-T) of biological specimens

Michael Schwertner^*, Arthur Sakellariou, Tilo Reinert, Tilman Butz

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) was applied to sets of Scanning Transmission Ion Microscopy (STIM) projections recorded at the LIPSION ion beam laboratory (Leipzig) in order to visualize the 3D-mass distribution in several specimens. Examples for a test structure (copper grid) and for biological specimens (cartilage cells, cygospore) are shown. Scanning Transmission Micro-Tomography (STIM-T) at a resolution of 260 nm was demonstrated for the first time. Sub-micron features of the Cu-grid specimen were verified by scanning electron microscopy. The ion energy loss measured during a STIM-T experiment is related to the mass density of the specimen. Typically, biological specimens can be analysed without staining. Only shock freezing and freeze-drying is required to preserve the ultra-structure of the specimen. The radiation damage to the specimen during the experiment can be neglected. This is an advantage compared to other techniques like X-ray micro-tomography. At present, the spatial resolution is limited by beam position fluctuations and specimen vibrations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	574-581
Number of pages	8
Journal	Ultramicroscopy
Volume	106
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2006.02.003
Publication status	Published - May 2006

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10.1016/j.ultramic.2006.02.003

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title = "Scanning transmission ion micro-tomography (STIM-T) of biological specimens",

abstract = "Computed tomography (CT) was applied to sets of Scanning Transmission Ion Microscopy (STIM) projections recorded at the LIPSION ion beam laboratory (Leipzig) in order to visualize the 3D-mass distribution in several specimens. Examples for a test structure (copper grid) and for biological specimens (cartilage cells, cygospore) are shown. Scanning Transmission Micro-Tomography (STIM-T) at a resolution of 260 nm was demonstrated for the first time. Sub-micron features of the Cu-grid specimen were verified by scanning electron microscopy. The ion energy loss measured during a STIM-T experiment is related to the mass density of the specimen. Typically, biological specimens can be analysed without staining. Only shock freezing and freeze-drying is required to preserve the ultra-structure of the specimen. The radiation damage to the specimen during the experiment can be neglected. This is an advantage compared to other techniques like X-ray micro-tomography. At present, the spatial resolution is limited by beam position fluctuations and specimen vibrations.",

keywords = "Biological specimen, Energy loss projection, Focussed ion beam, STIM-T, Sub-micron resolution, Tomography",

author = "Michael Schwertner and Arthur Sakellariou and Tilo Reinert and Tilman Butz",

year = "2006",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.ultramic.2006.02.003",

language = "English",

volume = "106",

pages = "574--581",

journal = "Ultramicroscopy",

issn = "0304-3991",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Scanning transmission ion micro-tomography (STIM-T) of biological specimens

AU - Schwertner, Michael

AU - Sakellariou, Arthur

AU - Reinert, Tilo

AU - Butz, Tilman

PY - 2006/5

Y1 - 2006/5

N2 - Computed tomography (CT) was applied to sets of Scanning Transmission Ion Microscopy (STIM) projections recorded at the LIPSION ion beam laboratory (Leipzig) in order to visualize the 3D-mass distribution in several specimens. Examples for a test structure (copper grid) and for biological specimens (cartilage cells, cygospore) are shown. Scanning Transmission Micro-Tomography (STIM-T) at a resolution of 260 nm was demonstrated for the first time. Sub-micron features of the Cu-grid specimen were verified by scanning electron microscopy. The ion energy loss measured during a STIM-T experiment is related to the mass density of the specimen. Typically, biological specimens can be analysed without staining. Only shock freezing and freeze-drying is required to preserve the ultra-structure of the specimen. The radiation damage to the specimen during the experiment can be neglected. This is an advantage compared to other techniques like X-ray micro-tomography. At present, the spatial resolution is limited by beam position fluctuations and specimen vibrations.

AB - Computed tomography (CT) was applied to sets of Scanning Transmission Ion Microscopy (STIM) projections recorded at the LIPSION ion beam laboratory (Leipzig) in order to visualize the 3D-mass distribution in several specimens. Examples for a test structure (copper grid) and for biological specimens (cartilage cells, cygospore) are shown. Scanning Transmission Micro-Tomography (STIM-T) at a resolution of 260 nm was demonstrated for the first time. Sub-micron features of the Cu-grid specimen were verified by scanning electron microscopy. The ion energy loss measured during a STIM-T experiment is related to the mass density of the specimen. Typically, biological specimens can be analysed without staining. Only shock freezing and freeze-drying is required to preserve the ultra-structure of the specimen. The radiation damage to the specimen during the experiment can be neglected. This is an advantage compared to other techniques like X-ray micro-tomography. At present, the spatial resolution is limited by beam position fluctuations and specimen vibrations.

KW - Biological specimen

KW - Energy loss projection

KW - Focussed ion beam

KW - STIM-T

KW - Sub-micron resolution

KW - Tomography

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U2 - 10.1016/j.ultramic.2006.02.003

DO - 10.1016/j.ultramic.2006.02.003

M3 - Article

SN - 0304-3991

VL - 106

SP - 574

EP - 581

JO - Ultramicroscopy

JF - Ultramicroscopy

IS - 7

ER -

Scanning transmission ion micro-tomography (STIM-T) of biological specimens

Abstract

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