1
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Caffrey BJ, Pedrazo-Tardajos A, Liberti E, Gaunt B, Kim JS, Kirkland AI. Liquid Phase Electron Microscopy of Bacterial Ultrastructure. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2402871. [PMID: 39239997 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in liquid phase scanning transmission electron microscopy (LP-STEM) have enabled the study of dynamic biological processes at nanometer resolutions, paving the way for live-cell imaging using electron microscopy. However, this technique is often hampered by the inherent thickness of whole cell samples and damage from electron beam irradiation. These restrictions degrade image quality and resolution, impeding biological interpretation. Using graphene encapsulation, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy to mitigate these issues provides unprecedented levels of intracellular detail in aqueous specimens. This study demonstrates the potential of LP-STEM to examine and identify internal cellular structures in thick biological samples. Specifically, it highlights the use of LP-STEM to investigate the radiation resistant, gram-positive bacterium, Deinococcus radiodurans using various imaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Caffrey
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 OQX, UK
| | - Adrián Pedrazo-Tardajos
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 OQX, UK
| | - Emanuela Liberti
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 OQX, UK
| | - Benjamin Gaunt
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 OQX, UK
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Judy S Kim
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 OQX, UK
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PH, UK
| | - Angus I Kirkland
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, OX11 OQX, UK
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PH, UK
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2
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Pedrazo-Tardajos A, Claes N, Wang D, Sánchez-Iglesias A, Nandi P, Jenkinson K, De Meyer R, Liz-Marzán LM, Bals S. Direct visualization of ligands on gold nanoparticles in a liquid environment. Nat Chem 2024; 16:1278-1285. [PMID: 38937593 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01574-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The interactions between gold nanoparticles, their surface ligands and the solvent critically influence the properties of these nanoparticles. Although spectroscopic and scattering techniques have been used to investigate their ensemble structure, a comprehensive understanding of these processes at the nanoscale remains challenging. Electron microscopy makes it possible to characterize the local structure and composition but is limited by insufficient contrast, electron beam sensitivity and the requirement for ultrahigh-vacuum conditions, which prevent the investigation of dynamic aspects. Here we show that, by exploiting high-quality graphene liquid cells, we can overcome these limitations and investigate the structure of the ligand shell around gold nanoparticles and at the ligand-gold interface in a liquid environment. Using this graphene liquid cell, we visualize the anisotropy, composition and dynamics of ligand distribution on gold nanorod surfaces. Our results indicate a micellar model for surfactant organization. This work provides a reliable and direct visualization of ligand distribution around colloidal nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Pedrazo-Tardajos
- EMAT-University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Claes
- EMAT-University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Da Wang
- EMAT-University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ana Sánchez-Iglesias
- CIC biomaGUNE, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER-BBN, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Proloy Nandi
- EMAT-University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kellie Jenkinson
- EMAT-University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Robin De Meyer
- EMAT-University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Luis M Liz-Marzán
- CIC biomaGUNE, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER-BBN, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- Cinbio, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Sara Bals
- EMAT-University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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3
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Zhang D, Shao Y, Zhou J, Zhan Q, Wen Z, Mao S, Wei J, Qi L, Shao Y, Wang H. Nanopipette dynamic microscopy unveils nano coffee ring. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2314320121. [PMID: 38954540 PMCID: PMC11252805 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2314320121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Liquid-phase electron microscopy (LP-EM) imaging has revolutionized our understanding of nanosynthesis and assembly. However, the current closed geometry limits its application for open systems. The ubiquitous physical process of the coffee-ring phenomenon that underpins materials and engineering science remains elusive at the nanoscale due to the lack of experimental tools. We introduce a quartz nanopipette liquid cell with a tunable dimension that requires only standard microscopes. Depending on the imaging condition, the open geometry of the nanopipette allows the imaging of evaporation-induced pattern formation, but it can also function as an ordinary closed-geometry liquid cell where evaporation is negligible despite the nano opening. The nano coffee-ring phenomenon was observed by tracking individual nanoparticles in an evaporating nanodroplet created from a thin liquid film by interfacial instability. Nanoflows drive the assembly and disruption of a ring pattern with the absence of particle-particle correlations. With surface effects, nanoflows override thermal fluctuations at tens of nanometers, in which nanoparticles displayed a "drunken man trajectory" and performed work at a value much smaller than kBT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyi Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Shao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiayi Zhou
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiangwei Zhan
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ziyang Wen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sheng Mao
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Wei
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan250100, People’s Republic of China
| | - Limin Qi
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuanhua Shao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huan Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing100871, People’s Republic of China
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4
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Smith JW, Carnevale LN, Das A, Chen Q. Electron videography of a lipid-protein tango. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk0217. [PMID: 38630809 PMCID: PMC11023515 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk0217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Biological phenomena, from enzymatic catalysis to synaptic transmission, originate in the structural transformations of biomolecules and biomolecular assemblies in liquid water. However, directly imaging these nanoscopic dynamics without probes or labels has been a fundamental methodological challenge. Here, we developed an approach for "electron videography"-combining liquid phase electron microscopy with molecular modeling-with which we filmed the nanoscale structural fluctuations of individual, suspended, and unlabeled membrane protein nanodiscs in liquid. Systematic comparisons with biochemical data and simulation indicate the graphene encapsulation involved can afford sufficiently reduced effects of the illuminating electron beam for these observations to yield quantitative fingerprints of nanoscale lipid-protein interactions. Our results suggest that lipid-protein interactions delineate dynamically modified membrane domains across unexpectedly long ranges. Moreover, they contribute to the molecular mechanics of the nanodisc as a whole in a manner specific to the protein within. Overall, this work illustrates an experimental approach to film, quantify, and understand biomolecular dynamics at the nanometer scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W. Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Lauren N. Carnevale
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Aditi Das
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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5
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Toleukhanova S, Shen TH, Chang C, Swathilakshmi S, Bottinelli Montandon T, Tileli V. Graphene Electrode for Studying CO 2 Electroreduction Nanocatalysts under Realistic Conditions in Microcells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2311133. [PMID: 38217533 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202311133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
The ability to resolve the dynamic evolution of electrocatalytically induced processes with electrochemical liquid-phase electron microscopy (EM) is limited by the microcell configuration. Herein, a free-standing tri-layer graphene is integrated as a membrane and electrode material into the electrochemical chip and its suitability as a substrate electrode at the high cathodic potentials required for CO2 electroreduction (CO2ER) is evaluated. The three-layer stacked graphene is transferred onto an in-house fabricated single-working electrode chip for use with bulk-like reference and counter electrodes to facilitate evaluation of its effectiveness. Electrochemical measurements show that the graphene working electrode exhibits a wider inert cathodic potential range than the conventional glassy carbon electrode while achieving good charge transfer properties for nanocatalytic redox reactions. Operando scanning electron microscopy studies clearly demonstrate the improvement in spatial resolution but reveal a synergistic effect of the electron beam and the applied potential that limits the stability time window of the graphene-based electrochemical chip. By optimizing the operating conditions, in situ monitoring of Cu nanocube degradation is achieved at the CO2ER potential of -1.1 V versus RHE. Thus, this improved microcell configuration allows EM observation of catalytic processes at potentials relevant to real systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saltanat Toleukhanova
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Tzu-Hsien Shen
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | - Chen Chang
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Vasiliki Tileli
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, CH-1015, Switzerland
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6
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Park J, Jeong H, Noh N, Park JS, Ji S, Kang S, Huh Y, Hyun J, Yuk JM. Single-Molecule Graphene Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy for Instability of Intermediate Amyloid Fibrils. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2309936. [PMID: 38016113 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202309936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule techniques are powerful microscopy methods that provide new insights into biological processes. Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (LP-TEM) is an ideal single-molecule technique for overcoming the poor spatiotemporal resolution of optical approaches. However, single-molecule LP-TEM is limited by several challenges such as electron-beam-induced molecular damage, difficulty in identifying biomolecular species, and a lack of analytical approaches for conformational dynamics. Herein, a single-molecule graphene liquid-cell TEM (GLC-TEM) technique that enables the investigation of real-time structural perturbations of intact amyloid fibrils is presented. It is demonstrated that graphene membranes significantly extend the observation period of native amyloid beta proteins without causing oxidative damage owing to electron beams, which is necessary for imaging. Stochastic and time-resolved investigations of single fibrils reveal that structural perturbations in the early fibrillar stage are responsible for the formation of various amyloid polymorphs. The advantage of observing structural behavior in real time with unprecedented resolution will potentially make GLC-TEM a complementary approach to other single-molecule techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungjae Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeongseop Jeong
- Electron Microscopy Research Center, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Chungcheongbuk-do, Cheongju-si, 28119, Republic of Korea
| | - Namgyu Noh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Su Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghyeon Ji
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Kang
- Analysis and Assessment Research Center, Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST), 67 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Huh
- Analysis and Assessment Research Center, Research Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST), 67 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaekyung Hyun
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Min Yuk
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
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7
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Xu J, Gao X, Zheng L, Jia X, Xu K, Ma Y, Wei X, Liu N, Peng H, Wang HW. Graphene sandwich-based biological specimen preparation for cryo-EM analysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2309384121. [PMID: 38252835 PMCID: PMC10835136 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309384121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
High-quality specimen preparation plays a crucial role in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structural analysis. In this study, we have developed a reliable and convenient technique called the graphene sandwich method for preparing cryo-EM specimens. This method involves using two layers of graphene films that enclose macromolecules on both sides, allowing for an appropriate ice thickness for cryo-EM analysis. The graphene sandwich helps to mitigate beam-induced charging effect and reduce particle motion compared to specimens prepared using the traditional method with graphene support on only one side, therefore improving the cryo-EM data quality. These advancements may open new opportunities to expand the use of graphene in the field of biological electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Xiaoyin Gao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Liming Zheng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Xia Jia
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Kui Xu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Yuwei Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex System, Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Xiaoding Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex System, Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Nan Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
| | - Hailin Peng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
- Beijing Graphene Institute, Beijing100095, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Hong-Wei Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing100084, China
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8
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Plana-Ruiz S, Gómez-Pérez A, Budayova-Spano M, Foley DL, Portillo-Serra J, Rauch E, Grivas E, Housset D, Das PP, Taheri ML, Nicolopoulos S, Ling WL. High-Resolution Electron Diffraction of Hydrated Protein Crystals at Room Temperature. ACS NANO 2023; 17:24802-24813. [PMID: 37890869 PMCID: PMC10753879 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c05378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Structural characterization is crucial to understanding protein function. Compared with X-ray diffraction methods, electron crystallography can be performed on nanometer-sized crystals and can provide additional information from the resulting Coulomb potential map. Whereas electron crystallography has successfully resolved three-dimensional structures of vitrified protein crystals, its widespread use as a structural biology tool has been limited. One main reason is the fragility of such crystals. Protein crystals can be easily damaged by mechanical stress, change in temperature, or buffer conditions as well as by electron irradiation. This work demonstrates a methodology to preserve these nanocrystals in their natural environment at room temperature for electron diffraction experiments as an alternative to existing cryogenic techniques. Lysozyme crystals in their crystallization solution are hermetically sealed via graphene-coated grids, and their radiation damage is minimized by employing a low-dose data collection strategy in combination with a hybrid-pixel direct electron detector. Diffraction patterns with reflections of up to 3 Å are obtained and successfully indexed using a template-matching algorithm. These results demonstrate the feasibility of in situ protein electron diffraction. The method described will also be applicable to structural studies of hydrated nanocrystals important in many research and technological developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Plana-Ruiz
- NanoMegas
SRPL, Rue Emile Claus
49, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Servei
de Recursos Científics i Tècnics, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona 43007, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | | | - Daniel L. Foley
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns
Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | | | - Edgar Rauch
- SIMAP,
Grenoble INP, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | | | | | - Mitra L. Taheri
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns
Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | | | - Wai Li Ling
- Université
Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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9
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Schmid SY, Lachowski K, Chiang HT, Pozzo L, De Yoreo J, Zhang S. Mechanisms of Biomolecular Self-Assembly Investigated Through In Situ Observations of Structures and Dynamics. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202309725. [PMID: 37702227 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202309725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular self-assembly of hierarchical materials is a precise and adaptable bottom-up approach to synthesizing across scales with considerable energy, health, environment, sustainability, and information technology applications. To achieve desired functions in biomaterials, it is essential to directly observe assembly dynamics and structural evolutions that reflect the underlying energy landscape and the assembly mechanism. This review will summarize the current understanding of biomolecular assembly mechanisms based on in situ characterization and discuss the broader significance and achievements of newly gained insights. In addition, we will also introduce how emerging deep learning/machine learning-based approaches, multiparametric characterization, and high-throughput methods can boost the development of biomolecular self-assembly. The objective of this review is to accelerate the development of in situ characterization approaches for biomolecular self-assembly and to inspire the next generation of biomimetic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakshi Yadav Schmid
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Kacper Lachowski
- Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Huat Thart Chiang
- Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Lilo Pozzo
- Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Jim De Yoreo
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
- Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
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10
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Shutt RRC, Ramireddy T, Stylianidis E, Di Mino C, Ingle RA, Ing G, Wibowo AA, Nguyen HT, Howard CA, Glushenkov AM, Stewart A, Clancy AJ. Synthesis of Black Phosphorene Quantum Dots from Red Phosphorus. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202301232. [PMID: 37435907 PMCID: PMC10947263 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202301232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Black phosphorene quantum dots (BPQDs) are most commonly derived from high-cost black phosphorus, while previous syntheses from the low-cost red phosphorus (Pred ) allotrope are highly oxidised. Herein, we present an intrinsically scalable method to produce high quality BPQDs, by first ball-milling Pred to create nanocrystalline Pblack and subsequent reductive etching using lithium electride solvated in liquid ammonia. The resultant ~25 nm BPQDs are crystalline with low oxygen content, and spontaneously soluble as individualized monolayers in tertiary amide solvents, as directly imaged by liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy. This new method presents a scalable route to producing quantities of high quality BPQDs for academic and industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca R. C. Shutt
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Thrinathreddy Ramireddy
- Research School of ChemistryThe Australian National UniversityActonACT 2601Australia
- Battery Storage and Grid Integration ProgramThe Australian National UniversityActonACT 2601Australia
| | | | - Camilla Di Mino
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Rebecca A. Ingle
- Department of ChemistryUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Gabriel Ing
- Department of ChemistryUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Ary A. Wibowo
- School of EngineeringThe Australian National UniversityActonACT 2601Australia
| | - Hieu T. Nguyen
- School of EngineeringThe Australian National UniversityActonACT 2601Australia
| | | | - Alexey M. Glushenkov
- Research School of ChemistryThe Australian National UniversityActonACT 2601Australia
- Battery Storage and Grid Integration ProgramThe Australian National UniversityActonACT 2601Australia
| | - Andrew Stewart
- Department of ChemistryUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Adam J. Clancy
- Department of ChemistryUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
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11
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Kumar Shukla M, Parihar A, Karthikeyan C, Kumar D, Khan R. Multifunctional GQDs for receptor targeting, drug delivery, and bioimaging in pancreatic cancer. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:14698-14716. [PMID: 37655476 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr03161f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a low survival rate and limited treatment options. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have recently become popular as a promising platform for cancer diagnosis and treatment due to their exceptional physicochemical properties, such as biocompatibility, stability, and fluorescence. This review discusses the potential of multifunctional GQDs as a platform for receptor targeting, drug delivery, and bioimaging in pancreatic cancer. The current studies emphasized the ability of GQDs to selectively target pancreatic cancer cells by overexpressing binding receptors on the cell surface. Additionally, this review discussed the uses of GQDs as drug delivery vehicles for the controlled and targeted release of therapeutics for pancreatic cancer cells. Finally, the potential of GQDs as imaging agents for pancreatic cancer detection and monitoring has been discussed. Overall, multifunctional GQDs showed great promise as a versatile platform for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Further investigation of multifunctional GQDs in terms of their potential and optimization in the context of pancreatic cancer therapy is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monu Kumar Shukla
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan 173229, India
| | - Arpana Parihar
- Industrial Waste Utilization, Nano and Biomaterials, CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal 462026, Madhya Pradesh, India.
| | | | - Deepak Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan 173229, India
| | - Raju Khan
- Industrial Waste Utilization, Nano and Biomaterials, CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal 462026, Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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12
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Korpanty J, Gianneschi NC. Exploration of Organic Nanomaterials with Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy. Acc Chem Res 2023; 56:2298-2312. [PMID: 37580021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
ConspectusOrganic, soft materials with solution-phase nanoscale structures, such as emulsions, hydrogels, and thermally responsive materials, are inherently difficult to directly image via dry state and cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Therefore, we lack a routine microscopy method with sufficient resolution that can, in tandem with scattering techniques, probe the morphology and dynamics of these and many related systems. These challenges motivate liquid cell (LC) TEM method development, aimed at making the technique generally available and routine. To date, the field has been and continues to be dominantly focused on analyzing solution-phase inorganic materials. These mostly metallic nanoparticles have been studied at electron fluxes that can allow for high-resolution imaging, in the range of hundreds to thousands of e- Å-2 s-1. Despite excellent contrast, in these cases, one often contends with knock-on damage, direct radiolysis, and sensitization of the solvent by virtue of enhanced secondary electron production by the impinging electron beam. With an interest in soft materials, we face both related and distinct challenges, especially in achieving a high-enough contrast within solvated liquid cells. Additionally, we must be aware of artifacts associated with high-flux imaging conditions in terms of direct radiolysis of the solvent and the sensitive materials themselves. Regardless, with care, it has become possible to gain real insight into both static and dynamic organic nanomaterials in solution. This is due, in large part, to key advances that have been made, including improved sample preparation protocols, image capture technologies, and image analysis, which have allowed LCTEM to have utility. To enable solvated soft matter characterization by LCTEM, a generalizable multimodal workflow was developed by leveraging both experimental and theoretical precedents from across the LCTEM field and adjacent works concerned with solution radiolysis and nanoparticle tracking analyses. This workflow consists of (1) modeling electron beam-solvent interactions, (2) studying electron beam-sample interactions via LCTEM coupled with post-mortem analysis, (3) the construction of "damage plots" displaying sample integrity under varied imaging and sample conditions, (4) optimized LCTEM imaging, (5) image processing, and (6) correlative analysis via X-ray or light scattering. In this Account, we present this outlook and the challenges we continue to overcome in the direct imaging of dynamic solvated nanoscale soft materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Korpanty
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Simpson Querrey Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Nathan C Gianneschi
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Simpson Querrey Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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13
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Rutten L, de Beer M, Roverts R, Sánchez EM, Sommerdijk N. A Cryo-/Liquid Phase Correlative Light Electron Microscopy Workflow to Visualize Crystallization Processes in Graphene Liquid Cells. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2023; 29:1935-1936. [PMID: 37612957 DOI: 10.1093/micmic/ozad067.1002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Luco Rutten
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Electron Microscopy Center, Radboudumc Technology Center Microscopy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Marit de Beer
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Electron Microscopy Center, Radboudumc Technology Center Microscopy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Rona Roverts
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Electron Microscopy Center, Radboudumc Technology Center Microscopy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Elena Macías Sánchez
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Electron Microscopy Center, Radboudumc Technology Center Microscopy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Stratigraphy and Palaeontolgy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Nico Sommerdijk
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovations, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Electron Microscopy Center, Radboudumc Technology Center Microscopy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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14
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Qu J, Sui M, Li R. Recent advances in in-situ transmission electron microscopy techniques for heterogeneous catalysis. iScience 2023; 26:107072. [PMID: 37534164 PMCID: PMC10391733 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of heterogeneous catalytic reaction under working conditions has long been considered a "black box", which is mainly because of the difficulties in directly characterizing the structural changes of catalysts at the atomic level during catalytic reactions. The development of in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques offers opportunities for introducing a realistic chemical reaction environment in TEM, making it possible to uncover the mystery of catalytic reactions. In this article, we present a comprehensive overview of the application of in situ TEM techniques in heterogeneous catalysis, highlighting its utility for observing gas-solid and liquid-solid reactions during thermal catalysis, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis. in situ TEM has a unique advantage in revealing the complex structural changes of catalysts during chemical reactions. Revealing the real-time dynamic structure during reaction processes is crucial for understanding the intricate relationship between catalyst structure and its catalytic performance. Finally, we present a perspective on the future challenges and opportunities of in situ TEM in heterogeneous catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangshan Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM-2011), Dalian 116023, China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Manling Sui
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microstructure and Properties of Solids, Faculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Rengui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy, The Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials (iChEM-2011), Dalian 116023, China
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15
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Chao HY, Venkatraman K, Moniri S, Jiang Y, Tang X, Dai S, Gao W, Miao J, Chi M. In Situ and Emerging Transmission Electron Microscopy for Catalysis Research. Chem Rev 2023. [PMID: 37327473 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Catalysts are the primary facilitator in many dynamic processes. Therefore, a thorough understanding of these processes has vast implications for a myriad of energy systems. The scanning/transmission electron microscope (S/TEM) is a powerful tool not only for atomic-scale characterization but also in situ catalytic experimentation. Techniques such as liquid and gas phase electron microscopy allow the observation of catalysts in an environment conducive to catalytic reactions. Correlated algorithms can greatly improve microscopy data processing and expand multidimensional data handling. Furthermore, new techniques including 4D-STEM, atomic electron tomography, cryogenic electron microscopy, and monochromated electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) push the boundaries of our comprehension of catalyst behavior. In this review, we discuss the existing and emergent techniques for observing catalysts using S/TEM. Challenges and opportunities highlighted aim to inspire and accelerate the use of electron microscopy to further investigate the complex interplay of catalytic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Yun Chao
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, One Bethel Valley Road, Building 4515, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6064, United States
| | - Kartik Venkatraman
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, One Bethel Valley Road, Building 4515, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6064, United States
| | - Saman Moniri
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Yongjun Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xuan Tang
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Sheng Dai
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wenpei Gao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Jianwei Miao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Miaofang Chi
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, One Bethel Valley Road, Building 4515, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6064, United States
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16
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Phakatkar AH, Megaridis CM, Shokuhfar T, Shahbazian-Yassar R. Real-time TEM observations of ice formation in graphene liquid cell. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:7006-7013. [PMID: 36946122 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr00097d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The study of ice nucleation and growth at the nanoscale is of utmost importance in geological and atmospheric sciences. However, existing transmission electron microscopy (TEM) approaches have been unsuccessful in imaging ice formation directly. Herein, we demonstrate how radical scavengers - such as TiO2 - encased with water in graphene liquid cells (GLCs) facilitate the observation of ice nucleation phenomena at low temperatures. Atomic-resolution imaging reveals the nucleation and growth of cubic ice-phase crystals at close proximity to TiO2-water nanointerfaces at low temperatures. Interestingly, both heterogeneously and homogeneously nucleated ice crystals exhibited this cubic phase. Ice crystal nuclei were observed to be more stable at the TiO2-water nanointerface, as compared with crystals in the bulk liquid (homogeneous nucleation), suggesting the radical scavenging efficacy of TiO2 nanoparticles mitigating the electron beam by-products. The present work demonstrates that the use of radical scavengers in GLC TEM shows great promise towards unveiling the nanoscale pathways for ice nucleation and growth dynamic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit H Phakatkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Constantine M Megaridis
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Tolou Shokuhfar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Reza Shahbazian-Yassar
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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17
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Phakatkar AH, Yurkiv V, Ghildiyal P, Wang Y, Amiri A, Sorokina LV, Zachariah MR, Shokuhfar T, Shahbazian-Yassar R. In Situ Microscopic Studies on the Interaction of Multi-Principal Element Nanoparticles and Bacteria. ACS NANO 2023; 17:5880-5893. [PMID: 36921123 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Multi-principal element nanoparticles are an emerging class of materials with potential applications in medicine and biology. However, it is not known how such nanoparticles interact with bacteria at nanoscale. In the present work, we evaluated the interaction of multi-principal elemental alloy (FeNiCu) nanoparticles with Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria using the in situ graphene liquid cell (GLC) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) approach. The imaging revealed the details of bacteria wall damage in the vicinity of nanoparticles. The chemical mappings of S, P, O, N, C, and Cl elements confirmed the cytoplasmic leakage of the bacteria. Our results show that there is selective release of metal ions from the nanoparticles. The release of copper ions was much higher than that for nickel while the iron release was the lowest. In addition, the binding affinity of bacterial cell membrane protein functional groups with Cu, Ni, and Fe cations is found to be the driving force behind the selective metal cations' release from the multi-principal element nanoparticles. The protein functional groups driven dissolution of multielement nanoparticles was evaluated using the density functional theory (DFT) computational method, which confirmed that the energy required to remove Cu atoms from the nanoparticle surface was the least in comparison with those for Ni and Fe atoms. The DFT results support the experimental data, indicating that the energy to dissolve metal atoms exposed to oxidation and/or the to presence of oxygen atoms at the surface of the nanoparticle catalyzes metal removal from the multielement nanoparticle. The study shows the potential of compositional design of multi-principal element nanoparticles for the controlled release of metal ions to develop antibacterial strategies. In addition, GLC-STEM is a promising approach for understanding the nanoscale interaction of metallic nanoparticles with biological structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit H Phakatkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Vitaliy Yurkiv
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Pankaj Ghildiyal
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Azadeh Amiri
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Lioudmila V Sorokina
- Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Michael R Zachariah
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Tolou Shokuhfar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
| | - Reza Shahbazian-Yassar
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, United States
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18
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Jabbari V, Sawczyk M, Amiri A, Král P, Shahbazian-Yassar R. Unveiling growth and dynamics of liposomes by graphene liquid cell-transmission electron microscopy. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:5011-5022. [PMID: 36790028 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr06147c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Liposome is a model system for biotechnological and biomedical purposes spanning from targeted drug delivery to modern vaccine research. Yet, the growth mechanism of liposomes is largely unknown. In this work, the formation and evolution of phosphatidylcholine-based liposomes are studied in real-time by graphene liquid cell-transmission electron microscopy (GLC-TEM). We reveal important steps in the growth, fusion and denaturation of phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes. We show that initially complex lipid aggregates resembling micelles start to form. These aggregates randomly merge while capturing water and forming small proto-liposomes. The nanoscopic containers continue sucking water until their membrane becomes convex and free of redundant phospholipids, giving stabilized PC liposomes of different sizes. In the initial stage, proto-liposomes grow at a rate of 10-15 nm s-1, which is followed by their growth rate of 2-5 nm s-1, limited by the lipid availability in the solution. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to understand the structure of micellar clusters, their evolution, and merging. The liposomes are also found to fuse through lipid bilayers docking followed by the formation of a hemifusion diaphragm and fusion pore opening. The liposomes denaturation can be described by initial structural destabilization and deformation of the membrane followed by the leakage of the encapsulated liquid. This study offers new insights on the formation and growth of lipid-based molecular assemblies which is applicable to a wide range of amphiphilic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Jabbari
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. rsyassar@uic
| | - Michal Sawczyk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Azadeh Amiri
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. rsyassar@uic
| | - Petr Král
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Department of Physics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Reza Shahbazian-Yassar
- Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. rsyassar@uic
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19
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Wang H, Xu Z, Mao S, Granick S. Experimental Guidelines to Image Transient Single-Molecule Events Using Graphene Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy. ACS NANO 2022; 16:18526-18537. [PMID: 36256532 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c06766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In quest of the holy grail to "see" how individual molecules interact in liquid environments, single-molecule imaging methods now include liquid-phase electron microscopy, whose resolution can be nanometers in space and several frames per second in time using an ordinary electron microscope that is routinely available to many researchers. However, with the current state of the art, protocols that sound similar to those described in the literature lead to outcomes that can differ. The key challenge is to achieve sample contrast under a safe electron dose within a frame rate adequate to capture the molecular process. Here, we present such examples from different systems─synthetic polymer, lipid assembly, DNA-enzyme─in which we have done this using graphene liquid cells. We describe detailed experimental procedures and share empirical experience for conducting successful experiments, starting from fabrication of a graphene liquid cell, to identification of high-quality liquid pockets from desirable shapes and sizes, to effective searching for target sample pockets under electron microscopy, and to discrimination of sample molecules and molecular processes of interest. These experimental tips can assist others who wish to make use of this method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Center for Spectroscopy, Beijing Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry & Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhun Xu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Mao
- Department of Mechanics and Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Steve Granick
- Center for Soft and Living Matter, Institute for Basic Science, Ulsan, Korea, 44919
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Ulsan, Korea 44919
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20
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Bultema LA, Bücker R, Schulz EC, Tellkamp F, Gonschior J, Miller RD, Kassier GH. The effect of secondary electrons on radiolysis as observed by in liquid TEM: The role of window material and electrical bias. Ultramicroscopy 2022; 240:113579. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2022.113579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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21
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Tracking single adatoms in liquid in a transmission electron microscope. Nature 2022; 609:942-947. [PMID: 35896149 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05130-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Single atoms or ions on surfaces affect processes from nucleation1 to electrochemical reactions2 and heterogeneous catalysis3. Transmission electron microscopy is a leading approach for visualizing single atoms on a variety of substrates4,5. It conventionally requires high vacuum conditions, but has been developed for in situ imaging in liquid and gaseous environments6,7 with a combined spatial and temporal resolution that is unmatched by any other method-notwithstanding concerns about electron-beam effects on samples. When imaging in liquid using commercial technologies, electron scattering in the windows enclosing the sample and in the liquid generally limits the achievable resolution to a few nanometres6,8,9. Graphene liquid cells, on the other hand, have enabled atomic-resolution imaging of metal nanoparticles in liquids10. Here we show that a double graphene liquid cell, consisting of a central molybdenum disulfide monolayer separated by hexagonal boron nitride spacers from the two enclosing graphene windows, makes it possible to monitor, with atomic resolution, the dynamics of platinum adatoms on the monolayer in an aqueous salt solution. By imaging more than 70,000 single adatom adsorption sites, we compare the site preference and dynamic motion of the adatoms in both a fully hydrated and a vacuum state. We find a modified adsorption site distribution and higher diffusivities for the adatoms in the liquid phase compared with those in vacuum. This approach paves the way for in situ liquid-phase imaging of chemical processes with single-atom precision.
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22
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Fritsch B, Zech TS, Bruns MP, Körner A, Khadivianazar S, Wu M, Zargar Talebi N, Virtanen S, Unruh T, Jank MPM, Spiecker E, Hutzler A. Radiolysis-Driven Evolution of Gold Nanostructures - Model Verification by Scale Bridging In Situ Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Diffraction. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202803. [PMID: 35780494 PMCID: PMC9443456 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Utilizing ionizing radiation for in situ studies in liquid media enables unique insights into nanostructure formation dynamics. As radiolysis interferes with observations, kinetic simulations are employed to understand and exploit beam-liquid interactions. By introducing an intuitive tool to simulate arbitrary kinetic models for radiation chemistry, it is demonstrated that these models provide a holistic understanding of reaction mechanisms. This is shown for irradiated HAuCl4 solutions allowing for quantitative prediction and tailoring of redox processes in liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (LP-TEM). Moreover, it is demonstrated that kinetic modeling of radiation chemistry is applicable to investigations utilizing X-rays such as X-ray diffraction (XRD). This emphasizes that beam-sample interactions must be considered during XRD in liquid media and shows that reaction kinetics do not provide a threshold dose rate for gold nucleation relevant to LP-TEM and XRD. Furthermore, it is unveiled that oxidative etching of gold nanoparticles depends on both, precursor concentration, and dose rate. This dependency is exploited to probe the electron beam-induced shift in Gibbs free energy landscape by analyzing critical radii of gold nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birk Fritsch
- Electron Devices (LEB)Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergCauerstraße 691058ErlangenGermany
- Institute of Micro‐ and Nanostructure Research (IMN) and Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM)Department of Materials Science and EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergCauerstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Tobias S. Zech
- Institute for Crystallography and Structural Physics (ICSP)and Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM)Institute of Condensed Matter PhysicsDepartment of PhysicsFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergStaudtstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Mark P. Bruns
- Surface Science and Corrosion (LKO)Department of Materials Science and EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergMartensstraße 791058ErlangenGermany
| | - Andreas Körner
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHHelmholtz Institute Erlangen‐Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK‐11)Cauerstraße 191058ErlangenGermany
| | - Saba Khadivianazar
- Electron Devices (LEB)Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergCauerstraße 691058ErlangenGermany
| | - Mingjian Wu
- Institute of Micro‐ and Nanostructure Research (IMN) and Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM)Department of Materials Science and EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergCauerstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Neda Zargar Talebi
- Electron Devices (LEB)Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergCauerstraße 691058ErlangenGermany
| | - Sannakaisa Virtanen
- Surface Science and Corrosion (LKO)Department of Materials Science and EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergMartensstraße 791058ErlangenGermany
| | - Tobias Unruh
- Institute for Crystallography and Structural Physics (ICSP)and Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM)Institute of Condensed Matter PhysicsDepartment of PhysicsFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergStaudtstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Michael P. M. Jank
- Electron Devices (LEB)Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergCauerstraße 691058ErlangenGermany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology IISBSchottkystraße 1091058ErlangenGermany
| | - Erdmann Spiecker
- Institute of Micro‐ and Nanostructure Research (IMN) and Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM)Department of Materials Science and EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergCauerstraße 391058ErlangenGermany
| | - Andreas Hutzler
- Electron Devices (LEB)Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication EngineeringFriedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐NürnbergCauerstraße 691058ErlangenGermany
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbHHelmholtz Institute Erlangen‐Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (IEK‐11)Cauerstraße 191058ErlangenGermany
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23
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Bae Y, Ha MY, Bang KT, Yang S, Kang SY, Kim J, Sung J, Kang S, Kang D, Lee WB, Choi TL, Park J. Conformation Dynamics of Single Polymer Strands in Solution. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2202353. [PMID: 35725274 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202202353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Conformational changes in macromolecules significantly affect their functions and assembly into high-level structures. Despite advances in theoretical and experimental studies, investigations into the intrinsic conformational variations and dynamic motions of single macromolecules remain challenging. Here, liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy enables the real-time tracking of single-chain polymers. Imaging linear polymers, synthetically dendronized with conjugated aromatic groups, in organic solvent confined within graphene liquid cells, directly exhibits chain-resolved conformational dynamics of individual semiflexible polymers. These experimental and theoretical analyses reveal that the dynamic conformational transitions of the single-chain polymer originate from the degree of intrachain interactions. In situ observations also show that such dynamics of the single-chain polymer are significantly affected by environmental factors, including surfaces and interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Bae
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Young Ha
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Taek Bang
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghee Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Yun Kang
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Joodeok Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongbaek Sung
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsu Kang
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dohun Kang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Won Bo Lee
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Lim Choi
- Department of Chemistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungwon Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Gyeonggi, 16229, Republic of Korea
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24
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Kunnas P, Moradi MA, Sommerdijk N, de Jonge N. Strategy for optimizing experimental settings for studying low atomic number colloidal assemblies using liquid phase scanning transmission electron microscopy. Ultramicroscopy 2022; 240:113596. [PMID: 35908325 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2022.113596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Observing processes of nanoscale materials of low atomic number is possible using liquid phase electron microscopy (LP-EM). However, the achievable spatial resolution (d) is limited by radiation damage. Here, we examine a strategy for optimizing LP-EM experiments based on an analytical model and experimental measurements, and develop a method for quantifying image quality at ultra low electron dose De using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). As experimental test case we study the formation of a colloidal binary system containing 30 nm diameter SiO2 nanoparticles (SiONPs), and 100 nm diameter polystyrene microspheres (PMs). We show that annular dark field (DF) STEM is preferred over bright field (BF) STEM for practical reasons. Precise knowledge of the material's density is crucial for the calculations in order to match experimental data. To calculate the detectability of nano-objects in an image, the Rose criterion for single pixels is expanded to a model of the signal to noise ratio obtained for multiple pixels spanning the image of an object. Using optimized settings, it is possible to visualize the radiation-sensitive, hierarchical low-Z binary structures, and identify both components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kunnas
- INM- Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany; Faculty of Physics, Quantum Imaging and Biophysics, University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Mohammad-Amin Moradi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600 MB, the Netherlands
| | - Nico Sommerdijk
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525 GA, the Netherlands
| | - Niels de Jonge
- INM- Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany; Department of Physics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken 66123, Germany.
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25
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Kelly DF, DiCecco LA, Jonaid GM, Dearnaley WJ, Spilman MS, Gray JL, Dressel-Dukes MJ. Liquid-EM goes viral - visualizing structure and dynamics. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 75:102426. [PMID: 35868163 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Liquid-electron microscopy (EM), the room temperature correlate to cryo-EM, is an exciting new technique delivering real-time data of dynamic reactions in solution. Here, we explain how liquid-EM gained popularity in recent years by examining key experiments conducted on viral assemblies and host-pathogen interactions. We describe developing workflows for specimen preparation, data collection, and computing processes that led to the first high-resolution virus structures in a liquid environment. Equally important, we review why liquid-electron tomography may become the next big thing in biomedical research due to its ability to monitor live viruses entering cells within seconds. Taken together, we pose the idea that liquid-EM can serve as a dynamic complement to current cryo-EM methods, inspiring the "real-time revolution" in nanoscale imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah F Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Structural Oncology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Liza-Anastasia DiCecco
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L7, Canada. https://twitter.com/LizaDiCecco
| | - G M Jonaid
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Structural Oncology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - William J Dearnaley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Structural Oncology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. https://twitter.com/PennStateMRI
| | - Michael S Spilman
- Direct Electron, LP, San Diego, CA 92128, USA. https://twitter.com/DirectElectron
| | - Jennifer L Gray
- Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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26
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Sung J, Bae Y, Park H, Kang S, Choi BK, Kim J, Park J. Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy for Reliable In Situ Imaging of Nanomaterials. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2022; 13:167-191. [PMID: 35700529 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-092120-034534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM) is a powerful in situ visualization technique for directly characterizing nanomaterials in the liquid state. Despite its successful application in many fields, several challenges remain in achieving more accurate and reliable observations. We present LPTEM in chemical and biological applications, including studies for the morphological transformation and dynamics of nanoparticles, battery systems, catalysis, biomolecules, and organic systems. We describe the possible interactions and effects of the electron beam on specimens during observation and present sample-specific approaches to mitigate and control these electron-beam effects. We provide recent advances in achieving atomic-level resolution for liquid-phase investigation of structures anddynamics. Moreover, we discuss the development of liquid cell platforms and the introduction of machine-learning data processing for quantitative and objective LPTEM analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongbaek Sung
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; , , , , , , .,Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuna Bae
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; , , , , , , .,Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hayoung Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; , , , , , , .,Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsu Kang
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; , , , , , , .,Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Back Kyu Choi
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; , , , , , , .,Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joodeok Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; , , , , , , .,Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungwon Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; , , , , , , .,Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Engineering Research, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology, Seoul National University, Gwanggyo-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
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27
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Li X, Mitsuishi K, Takeguchi M. Effect of Amorphous Carbon Coating on the Performance of Liquid Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy (LP-TEM) and the Dynamics of Enclosed Pt Nano-Colloids. Microscopy (Oxf) 2022; 71:181-186. [PMID: 35274727 DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfac012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultra-thin silicon nitride (SiN) membranes are critical in microfabrication-based liquid cells (LCs) for transmission electron microscopy. This study used a homemade LC with a 50-nm SiN membrane to study the dynamics of 2.58-nm platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) in approximately 200-nm deep water. When a strong beam with electron flux ranging from 2.5 × 103 to 1.4 ×106 e-/(nm2·s) was applied to resolve the NPs, the beam caused NP aggregation and even drilled a hole on the top membrane. The hole drilling was prevented by coating a 1-4-nm-thick amorphous carbon layer on both sides of the membrane. The NP aggregation rate also decreased with increasing carbon thickness. After overcoming the aforementioned issues, lattice fringes of the Pt NPs were visible when the NPs were attached to the membrane of the 4-nm-carbon-coated LC containing a thin liquid layer. The effects of the electron beam and carbon on the LC and Pt NPs were investigated and discussed. This work provides a reference for LC-TEM research using strong electron beams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoguang Li
- Transmission Electron Microscopy Analysis Station, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Mitsuishi
- Transmission Electron Microscopy Analysis Station, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
| | - Masaki Takeguchi
- Transmission Electron Microscopy Analysis Station, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan
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28
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Cha HW, An BS, Yang CW. In Situ Observation of the Early Stages of Rapid Solid-Liquid Reaction in Closed Liquid Cell TEM Using Graphene Encapsulation. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2022; 28:53-60. [PMID: 35177141 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927621013647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a very useful tool for investigating dynamic solid–liquid reactions. However, there are challenges to observe the early stages of spontaneous solid–liquid reactions using a closed-type liquid cell system, the most popular and simple liquid cell system. We propose a graphene encapsulation method to overcome this limitation of closed-type liquid cell TEM. The solid and liquid are separated using graphene to suspend the reaction until the graphene layer is destroyed. Graphene can be decomposed by the high-energy electron beam used in TEM, allowing the reaction to proceed. Fast dissolution of graphene-capped copper nanoparticles in an FeCl3 solution was demonstrated via in situ liquid cell TEM at 300 kV using a cell with closed-type SiNx windows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Woo Cha
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do16419, Korea
| | - Byeong-Seon An
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do16419, Korea
| | - Cheol-Woong Yang
- School of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do16419, Korea
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29
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Pan Y, Tang W, Fan W, Zhang J, Chen X. Development of nanotechnology-mediated precision radiotherapy for anti-metastasis and radioprotection. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:9759-9830. [DOI: 10.1039/d1cs01145f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Radiotherapy (RT), including external beam RT and internal radiation therapy, uses high-energy ionizing radiation to kill tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanbo Pan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Wei Tang
- Departments of Pharmacy and Diagnostic Radiology, Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, Faculty of Science and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117544, Singapore
| | - Wenpei Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Surgery, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
- Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, NUS Center for Nanomedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
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30
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Kang S, Kim JH, Lee M, Yu JW, Kim J, Kang D, Baek H, Bae Y, Kim BH, Kang S, Shim S, Park SJ, Lee WB, Hyeon T, Sung J, Park J. Real-space imaging of nanoparticle transport and interaction dynamics by graphene liquid cell TEM. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabi5419. [PMID: 34860549 PMCID: PMC8641935 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi5419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Thermal motion of colloidal nanoparticles and their cohesive interactions are of fundamental importance in nanoscience but are difficult to access quantitatively, primarily due to the lack of the appropriate analytical tools to investigate the dynamics of individual particles at nanoscales. Here, we directly monitor the stochastic thermal motion and coalescence dynamics of gold nanoparticles smaller than 5 nm, using graphene liquid cell (GLC) transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We also present a novel model of nanoparticle dynamics, providing a unified, quantitative explanation of our experimental observations. The nanoparticles in a GLC exhibit non-Gaussian, diffusive motion, signifying dynamic fluctuation of the diffusion coefficient due to the dynamically heterogeneous environment surrounding nanoparticles, including organic ligands on the nanoparticle surface. Our study shows that the dynamics of nanoparticle coalescence is controlled by two elementary processes: diffusion-limited encounter complex formation and the subsequent coalescence of the encounter complex through rotational motion, where surface-passivating ligands play a critical role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungsu Kang
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hyun Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
- Center for Chemical Dynamics in Living Cells, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
| | - Minyoung Lee
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Woong Yu
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Joodeok Kim
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dohun Kang
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hayeon Baek
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuna Bae
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Hyo Kim
- Department of Organic Materials and Fiber Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
| | - Seulki Kang
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangdeok Shim
- Department of Chemistry, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Jung Park
- Department of Chemistry and Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Bo Lee
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeghwan Hyeon
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeyoung Sung
- Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
- Center for Chemical Dynamics in Living Cells, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea
- Corresponding author. (J.P.); (J.S.)
| | - Jungwon Park
- School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Institute of Chemical Process, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Corresponding author. (J.P.); (J.S.)
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31
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Lehnert T, Kretschmer S, Bräuer F, Krasheninnikov AV, Kaiser U. Quasi-two-dimensional NaCl crystals encapsulated between graphene sheets and their decomposition under an electron beam. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:19626-19633. [PMID: 34816852 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04792b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Quasi-two-dimensional (2D) sodium chloride (NaCl) crystals of various lateral sizes between graphene sheets were manufactured via supersaturation from a saline solution. Aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy was used for systematic in situ investigations of the crystals and their decomposition under an 80 kV electron beam. Counterintuitively, bigger clusters were found to disintegrate faster under electron irradiation, but in general no correlation between crystal sizes and electron doses at which the crystals decompose was found. As for the destruction process, an abrupt decomposition of the crystals was observed, which can be described by a logistic decay function. Density-functional theory molecular dynamics simulations provide insights into the destruction mechanism, and indicate that even without account for ionization and electron excitations, free-standing NaCl crystals must quickly disintegrate due to the ballistic displacement of atoms from their surface and edges during imaging. However, graphene sheets mitigate damage development by stopping the displaced atoms and enable the immediate recombination of defects at the surface of the crystal. At the same time, once a hole in graphene appears, the displaced atoms escape, giving rise to the quick destruction of the crystal. Our results provide quantitative data on the stability of encapsulated quasi 2D NaCl crystals under electron irradiation and allow the conclusion that only high-quality graphene is suitable for protecting ionic crystals from beam damage in electron microscopy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tibor Lehnert
- Electron Microscopy Group of Materials Science, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
- Institute for Quantum Optics, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Silvan Kretschmer
- Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Fredrik Bräuer
- Electron Microscopy Group of Materials Science, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
| | - Arkady V Krasheninnikov
- Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11100, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Ute Kaiser
- Electron Microscopy Group of Materials Science, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
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32
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Gao Y, Chen J, Chen G, Fan C, Liu X. Recent Progress in the Transfer of Graphene Films and Nanostructures. SMALL METHODS 2021; 5:e2100771. [PMID: 34928026 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202100771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The one-atom-thick graphene has excellent electronic, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Currently, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene has received a great deal of attention because it provides access to large-area and uniform films with high-quality. This allows the fabrication of graphene based-electronics, sensors, photonics, and optoelectronics for practical applications. Zero bandgap, however, limits the application of a graphene film as electronic transistor. The most commonly used bottom-up approaches have achieved efficient tuning of the electronic bandgap by customizing well-defined graphene nanostructures. The postgrowth transfer of graphene films/nanostructures to a certain substrate is crucial in utilizing graphene in applicable devices. In this review, the basic growth mechanism of CVD graphene is first introduced. Then, recent advances in various transfer methods of as-grown graphene to target substrates are presented. The fabrication and transfer methods of graphene nanostructures are also provided, and then the transfer-related applications are summarized. At last, the challenging issues and the potential transfer-free approaches are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjing Gao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Centre for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jielin Chen
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Centre for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Guorui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Structures and Quantum Control (Ministry of Education), Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science, School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Chunhai Fan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Centre for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xiaoguo Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Frontiers Science Centre for Transformative Molecules, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
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33
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Jokisaari JR, Hu X, Mukherjee A, Uskoković V, Klie RF. Hydroxyapatite as a scavenger of reactive radiolysis species in graphene liquid cells for in situelectron microscopy. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 32:485707. [PMID: 34407513 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac1ebb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid cell electron microscopy is an imaging technique allowing for the investigation of the interaction of liquids and solids at nanoscopic length scales. Suchin situobservations are increasingly in-demand in an array of fields, from biological sciences to medicine to batteries. Graphene liquid cells (GLCs), in particular, have generated a great interest as a low-scattering window material with the potential for increasing the quality of both imaging and spectroscopy. However, preserving the stability of the liquid and of the sample in the GLC remains a considerable challenge. In the present work we encapsulate water and hydroxyapatite (HAP), a pH-sensitive biological material, in GLCs to observe the interactions between the graphene, HAP, and the electron beam. HAP was chosen for several reasons. One is its ubiquity in biological specimens such as bones and teeth, and the second is the presence of phosphate ions in common buffer solutions. Finally, there is its sensitivity to changes in pH, which result from beam-induced hydrolysis in liquid cells. A dynamic process of dissolution and recrystallization of HAP was observed, which correlated with the production of H+ions by the beam during imaging. In addition, a large increase in the stability of the GLC under irradiation was noted. Specifically, no stable hydrogen bubbles were detected under the electron fluxes routinely exceeding 170 e-Å-2s-1. With the measured threshold dose for the bubble formation in pure water equaling 9 e-Å-2s-1, it was concluded that the presence of HAP increases the resistance of water against radiolysis in the GLC by more than an order of magnitude. These results confirm the possibility of using biological materials, such as HAP, as stabilizers in liquid cell electron microscopy. They outline a potential route for stabilization of specimens in liquid cells through the addition of a scavenger of reactive species generated by the beam-induced hydrolysis of water. These improvements are essential for enhancing both the resolution of imaging and the available imaging time, as well as avoiding the beam-induced artifacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob R Jokisaari
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Xuan Hu
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Arijita Mukherjee
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Vuk Uskoković
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- TardigradeNano LLC, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert F Klie
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States of America
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34
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Dissanayake TU, Wang M, Woehl TJ. Revealing Reactions between the Electron Beam and Nanoparticle Capping Ligands with Correlative Fluorescence and Liquid-Phase Electron Microscopy. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:37553-37562. [PMID: 34338503 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c10957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (LP-TEM) enables real-time imaging of nanoparticle self-assembly, formation, and etching with single nanometer resolution. Despite the importance of organic nanoparticle capping ligands in these processes, the effect of electron beam irradiation on surface-bound and soluble capping ligands during LP-TEM imaging has not been investigated. Here, we use correlative LP-TEM and fluorescence microscopy (FM) to demonstrate that polymeric nanoparticle ligands undergo competing crosslinking and chain scission reactions that nonmonotonically modify ligand coverage over time. Branched polyethylenimine (BPEI)-coated silver nanoparticles were imaged with dose-controlled LP-TEM followed by labeling their primary amine groups with fluorophores to visualize the local thickness of adsorbed capping ligands. FM images showed that free ligands crosslinked in the LP-TEM image area over imaging times of tens of seconds, enhancing local capping ligand coverage on nanoparticles and silicon nitride membranes. Nanoparticle surface ligands underwent chain scission over irradiation times of minutes to tens of minutes, which depleted surface ligands from the nanoparticle and silicon nitride surface. Conversely, solutions of only soluble capping ligand underwent successive crosslinking reactions with no chain scission, suggesting that nanoparticles enhanced the chain scission reactions by acting as radiolysis hotspots. The addition of a hydroxyl radical scavenger, tert-butanol, eliminated chain scission reactions and slowed the progression of crosslinking reactions. These experiments have important implications for performing controlled and reproducible LP-TEM nanoparticle imaging as they demonstrate that the electron beam can significantly alter ligand coverage on nanoparticles in a nonintuitive manner. They emphasize the need to understand and control the electron beam radiation chemistry of a given sample to avoid significant perturbations to the nanoparticle capping ligand chemistry, which are invisible in electron micrographs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilini U Dissanayake
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Mei Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Taylor J Woehl
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
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35
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Tyukalova E, Vimal Vas J, Ignatans R, Mueller AD, Medwal R, Imamura M, Asada H, Fukuma Y, Rawat RS, Tileli V, Duchamp M. Challenges and Applications to Operando and In Situ TEM Imaging and Spectroscopic Capabilities in a Cryogenic Temperature Range. Acc Chem Res 2021; 54:3125-3135. [PMID: 34339603 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.1c00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
ConspectusIn this Account, we describe the challenges and promising applications of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures. Our work focuses on two areas of application: the delay of electron-beam-induced degradation and following low-temperature phenomena in a continuous and variable temperature range. For the former, we present a study of LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 lithium ion battery cathode material that undergoes electron beam-induced degradation when studied at room temperature by TEM. Cryogenic imaging reveals the true structure of LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 nanoparticles in their discharged state. Improved stability under electron beam irradiation was confirmed by following the evolution of the O K-edge fine structure by electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate that the effect of radiation damage on discharged LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 was previously underestimated and that atomic-resolution imaging at cryogenic temperature has a potential to be generalized to most of the Li-based materials and beyond. For the latter, we present two studies in the imaging of low-temperature phenomena on the local scale, namely, the evolution of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic domains walls, in BaTiO3 and Y3Fe5O12 systems, respectively, in a continuous and variable temperature range. Continuous imaging of the phase transition in BaTiO3, a prototypical ferroelectric system, from the low-temperature orthorhombic phase continuously up to the centrosymmetric high-temperature phase is shown to be possible inside a TEM. Similarly, the propagation of domain walls in Y3Fe5O12, a magnetic insulator, is studied from ∼120 to ∼400 K and combined with the application of a magnetic field and electrical current pulses to mimic the operando conditions as in domain wall memory and logic devices for information technology. Such studies are promising for studying the pinning of the ferroelectric and magnetic domains versus temperature, spin-polarized current, and externally applied magnetic field to better manipulate the domain walls. The capability of combining operando TEM stimuli such as current, voltage, and/or magnetic field with in situ TEM imaging in a continuous cryogenic temperature range will allow the uncovering of fundamental phenomena on the nanometer scale. These studies were made possible using a MEMS-based TEM holder that allowed an electron-transparent sample to be transferred and electrically contacted on a MEMS chip. The six-contact double-tilt holder allows the alignment of the specimen into its zone axis while simultaneously using four electrical contacts to regulate the temperature and two contacts to apply the electrical stimuli, i.e., operando TEM imaging. This Account leads to the demonstration of (i) the high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy of nanoparticles oriented in the desired [110] zone-axis direction at cryogenic temperatures to mitigate the electron beam degradation, (ii) imaging of low-temperature transitions with accurate and continuous control of the temperature that allowed single-frame observation of the presence of both the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases in the BaTiO3 system, and (iii) magnetic domain wall propagation as a function of temperature, magnetic field, and current pulses (100 ns with a 100 kHz repetition rate) in the Y3Fe5O12 system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Reinis Ignatans
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Masaaki Imamura
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Fukuoka 811-0295, Japan
| | - Hironori Asada
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Ube 755-8611, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Fukuma
- Department of Physics and Information Technology, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka 820-8502, Japan
- Research Center for Neuromorphic AI Hardwares, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Kitakyushu 808-0196, Japan
| | | | - Vasiliki Tileli
- Institute of Materials, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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36
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Rizvi A, Mulvey JT, Carpenter BP, Talosig R, Patterson JP. A Close Look at Molecular Self-Assembly with the Transmission Electron Microscope. Chem Rev 2021; 121:14232-14280. [PMID: 34329552 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Molecular self-assembly is pervasive in the formation of living and synthetic materials. Knowledge gained from research into the principles of molecular self-assembly drives innovation in the biological, chemical, and materials sciences. Self-assembly processes span a wide range of temporal and spatial domains and are often unintuitive and complex. Studying such complex processes requires an arsenal of analytical and computational tools. Within this arsenal, the transmission electron microscope stands out for its unique ability to visualize and quantify self-assembly structures and processes. This review describes the contribution that the transmission electron microscope has made to the field of molecular self-assembly. An emphasis is placed on which TEM methods are applicable to different structures and processes and how TEM can be used in combination with other experimental or computational methods. Finally, we provide an outlook on the current challenges to, and opportunities for, increasing the impact that the transmission electron microscope can have on molecular self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoon Rizvi
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Justin T Mulvey
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Brooke P Carpenter
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Rain Talosig
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Joseph P Patterson
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
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37
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Moreno-Hernandez IA, Crook MF, Ondry JC, Alivisatos AP. Redox Mediated Control of Electrochemical Potential in Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:12082-12089. [PMID: 34319106 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c03906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Liquid cell electron microscopy enables the study of nanoscale transformations in solvents with high spatial and temporal resolution, but for the technique to achieve its potential requires a new level of control over the reactivity caused by radical generation under electron beam irradiation. An understanding of how to control electron-solvent interactions is needed to further advance the study of structural dynamics for complex materials at the nanoscale. We developed an approach that scavenges radicals with redox species that form well-defined redox couples and control the electrochemical potential in situ. This approach enables the observation of electrochemical structural dynamics at near-atomic resolution with precise control of the liquid environment. Analysis of nanocrystal etching trajectories indicates that this approach can be generalized to several chemical systems. The ability to simultaneously observe heterogeneous reactions at near-atomic resolution and precisely control the electrochemical potential enables the fundamental study of complex nanoscale dynamics with unprecedented detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan A Moreno-Hernandez
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Michelle F Crook
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Justin C Ondry
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Kavli Energy NanoScience Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - A Paul Alivisatos
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Kavli Energy NanoScience Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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38
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Crook MF, Laube C, Moreno-Hernandez IA, Kahnt A, Zahn S, Ondry JC, Liu A, Alivisatos AP. Elucidating the Role of Halides and Iron during Radiolysis-Driven Oxidative Etching of Gold Nanocrystals Using Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy and Pulse Radiolysis. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:11703-11713. [PMID: 34292703 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c05099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Graphene liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has enabled the observation of a variety of nanoscale transformations. Yet understanding the chemistry of the liquid cell solution and its impact on the observed transformations remains an important step toward translating insights from liquid cell TEM to benchtop chemistry. Gold nanocrystal etching can be used as a model system to probe the reactivity of the solution. FeCl3 has been widely used to promote gold oxidation in bulk and liquid cell TEM studies, but the roles of the halide and iron species have not been fully elucidated. In this work, we observed the etching trajectories of gold nanocrystals in different iron halide solutions. We observed an increase in gold nanocrystal etch rate going from Cl-- to Br-- to I--containing solutions. This is consistent with a mechanism in which the dominant role of halides is as complexation agents for oxidized gold species. Additionally, the mechanism through which FeCl3 induces etching in liquid cell TEM remains unclear. Ground-state bleaching of the Fe(III) absorption band observed through pulse radiolysis indicates that iron may react with Cl2·- radicals to form an oxidized transient species under irradiation. Complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations indicate that the FeCl3 complex is oxidized to an Fe species with an OH radical ligand. Together our data indicate that an oxidized Fe species may be the active oxidant, while halides modulate the etch rate by tuning the reduction potential of gold nanocrystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle F Crook
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Christian Laube
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Ivan A Moreno-Hernandez
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Axel Kahnt
- Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Zahn
- Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM), Permoserstr. 15, D-04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Justin C Ondry
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Kavli Energy NanoScience Institute, University of California-Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Aijia Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - A Paul Alivisatos
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Kavli Energy NanoScience Institute, University of California-Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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39
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Verification of water presence in graphene liquid cells. Micron 2021; 149:103109. [PMID: 34332298 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2021.103109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Graphene liquid cells (GLCs) present the thinnest possible sample enclosures for liquid phase electron microscopy. However, the actual presence of liquid within a GLC is not always guaranteed. Of key importance is to reliably test the presence of the liquid, which is most frequently water or saline. Here, the commonly used methods for verifying the presence of water were evaluated. It is shown that depending on the type of sample, applying a single criterion does not always conclusively verify the presence of water. Testing liquid filling for a specific GLC sample preparation protocol should thus be considered critically. The most reliable method is direct observation of the water exciton peak using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). But if this method cannot be carried out, water filling of the GLC can be verified from a combination of higher contrast in the image, the presence of bubbles, and an oxygen signal in the EEL spectrum, which can be accomplished at a high electron dose in spot mode. Nanoparticle movement does not always occur in a GLC.
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40
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Sun M, Tian J, Chen Q. The studies on wet chemical etching via in situ liquid cell TEM. Ultramicroscopy 2021; 231:113271. [PMID: 33879369 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2021.113271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Wet chemical etching is a widely used process to fabricate fascinating nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles with precisely controlled size and shape. Understanding the etching mechanism and kinetic evolution process is crucial for controlling wet chemical etching. The development of in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (LCTEM) enables the study on wet chemical etching with high temporal and spatial resolutions. However, there still lack a detailed literature review on the wet chemical etching studies by in situ LCTEM. In this review, we summarize the studies on wet etching nanoparticles, one-dimensional nanomaterials and nanoribbons by in situ LCTEM, including etching rate, anisotropic etching, morphology evolution process, and etching mechanism. The challenges and opportunities of in situ LCTEM are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Sun
- Key Laboratory for the Physics and Chemistry of Nanodevices and Department of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jiamin Tian
- Key Laboratory for the Physics and Chemistry of Nanodevices and Department of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qing Chen
- Key Laboratory for the Physics and Chemistry of Nanodevices and Department of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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41
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Zhao R, Liu H, Li Y, Guo M, Zhang XD. Catalytic Nanozyme for Radiation Protection. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:411-429. [PMID: 33570917 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Radiotherapy has been widely used in clinical cancer treatment. However, the ionizing radiation required to kill the tumor will inevitably cause damage to the surrounding normal tissues. To minimize the radiation damage and side effects, small molecular radioprotective agents have been used as clinical adjuvants for radiation protection of healthy tissues. However, the shortcomings of small molecules such as short circulation time and rapid kidney clearance from the body greatly hinder their biomedical applications. In recent years, nanozymes have attracted much attention because of their potential to treat a variety of diseases. Nanozymes exhibit catalytic properties and antioxidant capabilities to provide a potential solution for the development of high-efficiency radioprotective agents in radiotherapy and nuclear radiation accidents. Therefore, in this review, we systematically summarize the catalytic nanozymes used for radiation protection of healthy tissues and discuss the challenges and future prospects of nanomaterials in the field of radiation protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiying Zhao
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Haile Liu
- Department of Physics and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Materials Physics and Preparing Technology, Institute of Advanced Materials Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yongming Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Meili Guo
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Zhang
- Department of Physics and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Low Dimensional Materials Physics and Preparing Technology, Institute of Advanced Materials Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering, Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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42
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Azim S, Bultema LA, de Kock MB, Osorio-Blanco ER, Calderón M, Gonschior J, Leimkohl JP, Tellkamp F, Bücker R, Schulz EC, Keskin S, de Jonge N, Kassier GH, Miller RJD. Environmental Liquid Cell Technique for Improved Electron Microscopic Imaging of Soft Matter in Solution. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2021; 27:44-53. [PMID: 33280632 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927620024654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy is a technique for simultaneous imaging of the structure and dynamics of specimens in a liquid environment. The conventional sample geometry consists of a liquid layer tightly sandwiched between two Si3N4 windows with a nominal spacing on the order of 0.5 μm. We describe a variation of the conventional approach, wherein the Si3N4 windows are separated by a 10-μm-thick spacer, thus providing room for gas flow inside the liquid specimen enclosure. Adjusting the pressure and flow speed of humid air inside this environmental liquid cell (ELC) creates a stable liquid layer of controllable thickness on the bottom window, thus facilitating high-resolution observations of low mass-thickness contrast objects at low electron doses. We demonstrate controllable liquid thicknesses in the range 160 ± 34 to 340 ± 71 nm resulting in corresponding edge resolutions of 0.8 ± 0.06 to 1.7 ± 0.8 nm as measured for immersed gold nanoparticles. Liquid layer thickness 40 ± 8 nm allowed imaging of low-contrast polystyrene particles. Hydration effects in the ELC have been studied using poly-N-isopropylacrylamide nanogels with a silica core. Therefore, ELC can be a suitable tool for in situ investigations of liquid specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Azim
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lindsey A Bultema
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michiel B de Kock
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Structural Systems Biology, Department of Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Notkestraße 85, 22607Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Marcelo Calderón
- POLYMAT & Applied Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013Bilbao, Spain
| | - Josef Gonschior
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan-Philipp Leimkohl
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedjof Tellkamp
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robert Bücker
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eike C Schulz
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sercan Keskin
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Niels de Jonge
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Physics, Saarland University, Campus D2 2, 66123Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Günther H Kassier
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
| | - R J Dwayne Miller
- Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, Geb. 99 (CFEL), 22761Hamburg, Germany
- Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St. Georg Street, Toronto, ONM5S 3H6, Canada
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43
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Korpanty J, Parent LR, Gianneschi NC. Enhancing and Mitigating Radiolytic Damage to Soft Matter in Aqueous Phase Liquid-Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy in the Presence of Gold Nanoparticle Sensitizers or Isopropanol Scavengers. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:1141-1149. [PMID: 33448858 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c04636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we describe the radiolytic environment experienced by a polymer in water during liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy (LCTEM). We examined the radiolytic environment of aqueous solutions of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, 2400 g/mol) in the presence of sensitizing gold nanoparticles (GNPs, 100 nm) or radical scavenging isopropanol (IPA). To quantify polymer damage, we employed post-mortem analysis via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS). This approach confirms IPA (1-10% w/v) can significantly mitigate radiolysis-induced damage to polymers in water, while GNPs significantly enhance damage. We couple LCTEM experiments with simulations to provide a generalizable strategy for assessing radiolysis mitigation or enhancement. This study highlights the caution required for LCTEM experiments on inorganic nanoparticles where solution phase properties of surrounding organic materials or the solvent itself are under investigation. Furthermore, we anticipate an increased use of scavengers for LCTEM studies of all kinds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Korpanty
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Lucas R Parent
- Innovation Partnership Building, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Nathan C Gianneschi
- Department of Chemistry, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
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44
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Park J, Koo K, Noh N, Chang JH, Cheong JY, Dae KS, Park JS, Ji S, Kim ID, Yuk JM. Graphene Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy: Progress, Applications, and Perspectives. ACS NANO 2021; 15:288-308. [PMID: 33395264 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Graphene liquid cell electron microscopy (GLC-EM), a cutting-edge liquid-phase EM technique, has become a powerful tool to directly visualize wet biological samples and the microstructural dynamics of nanomaterials in liquids. GLC uses graphene sheets with a one carbon atom thickness as a viewing window and a liquid container. As a result, GLC facilitates atomic-scale observation while sustaining intact liquids inside an ultra-high-vacuum transmission electron microscopy chamber. Using GLC-EM, diverse scientific results have been recently reported in the material, colloidal, environmental, and life science fields. Here, the developments of GLC fabrications, such as first-generation veil-type cells, second-generation well-type cells, and third-generation liquid-flowing cells, are summarized. Moreover, recent GLC-EM studies on colloidal nanoparticles, battery electrodes, mineralization, and wet biological samples are also highlighted. Finally, the considerations and future opportunities associated with GLC-EM are discussed to offer broad understanding and insight on atomic-resolution imaging in liquid-state dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungjae Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Kunmo Koo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Namgyu Noh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Ha Chang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Young Cheong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyun Seong Dae
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Su Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghyeon Ji
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Doo Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Min Yuk
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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45
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Parent LR, Gnanasekaran K, Korpanty J, Gianneschi NC. 100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Polymeric Materials by In Situ Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy. ACS Macro Lett 2021; 10:14-38. [PMID: 35548998 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
A century ago, Hermann Staudinger proposed the macromolecular theory of polymers, and now, as we enter the second century of polymer science, we face a different set of opportunities and challenges for the development of functional soft matter. Indeed, many fundamental questions remain open, relating to physical structures and mechanisms of phase transformations at the molecular and nanoscale. In this Viewpoint, we describe efforts to develop a dynamic, in situ microscopy tool suited to the study of polymeric materials at the nanoscale that allows for direct observation of discrete structures and processes in solution, as a complement to light, neutron, and X-ray scattering methods. Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM) is a nascent in situ imaging technique for characterizing and examining solvated nanomaterials in real time. Though still under development, LPTEM has been shown to be capable of several modes of imaging: (1) imaging static solvated materials analogous to cryo-TEM, (2) videography of nanomaterials in motion, (3) observing solutions or nanomaterials undergoing physical and chemical transformations, including synthesis, assembly, and phase transitions, and (4) observing electron beam-induced chemical-materials processes. Herein, we describe opportunities and limitations of LPTEM for polymer science. We review the basic experimental platform of LPTEM and describe the origin of electron beam effects that go hand in hand with the imaging process. These electron beam effects cause perturbation and damage to the sample and solvent that can manifest as artefacts in images and videos. We describe sample-specific experimental guidelines and outline approaches to mitigate, characterize, and quantify beam damaging effects. Altogether, we seek to provide an overview of this nascent field in the context of its potential to contribute to the advancement of polymer science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas R. Parent
- Innovation Partnership Building, The University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
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Kuei B, Gomez ED. Pushing the limits of high-resolution polymer microscopy using antioxidants. Nat Commun 2021; 12:153. [PMID: 33420049 PMCID: PMC7794589 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20363-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) has been transformative to the field of polymer science, enabling the direct imaging of molecular structures. Although some materials have remarkable stability under electron beams, most HRTEM studies are limited by the electron dose the sample can handle. Beam damage of conjugated polymers is not yet fully understood, but it has been suggested that the diffusion of secondary reacting species may play a role. As such, we examine the effect of the addition of antioxidants to a series of solution-processable conjugated polymers as an approach to mitigating beam damage. Characterizing the effects of beam damage by calculating critical dose DC values from the decay of electron diffraction peaks shows that beam damage of conjugated polymers in the TEM can be minimized by using antioxidants at room temperature, even if the antioxidant does not alter or incorporate into polymer crystals. As a consequence, the addition of antioxidants pushes the resolution limit of polymer microscopy, enabling imaging of a 3.6 Å lattice spacing in poly[(5,6-difluoro-2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4,7-diyl)-alt-(3,3″'-di(2-octyldodecyl)-2,2';5',2″;5″,2″'-quaterthiophene-5,5″'-diyl)] (PffBT4T-2OD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke Kuei
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
| | - Enrique D Gomez
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA.
- Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA.
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Koo K, Park J, Ji S, Toleukhanova S, Yuk JM. Liquid-Flowing Graphene Chip-Based High-Resolution Electron Microscopy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2005468. [PMID: 33215775 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The recent advances in liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy represent tremendous potential in many different fields and exciting new opportunities. However, achieving both high-resolution imaging and operando capabilities remain a significant challenge. This work suggests a novel in situ imaging platform of liquid-flowing graphene chip TEM (LFGC-TEM) equipped with graphene viewing windows and a liquid exchange system. The LFGCs are robust under high-pressure gradients and rapid liquid circulation in ranges covering the experimental conditions accessible with conventional thick SiNx chips. LFGC-TEM provides atomic resolution for colloidal nanoparticles and molecular-level information limits for unstained wet biomolecules and cells that are comparable to the resolutions achievable with solid-phase and cryogenic TEM, respectively. This imaging platform can provide an opportunity for live imaging of biological phenomena that is not yet achieved using any current methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunmo Koo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jungjae Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghyeon Ji
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Saltanat Toleukhanova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Min Yuk
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
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Lee SH, Rho WY, Chang H, Lee JH, Kim J, Lee SH, Jun BH. Carbon Nanomaterials for Biomedical Application. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1309:257-276. [PMID: 33782876 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-33-6158-4_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The use of carbon-based nanomaterials (CNs) with outstanding properties has been rising in many scientific and industrial application fields. These CNs represent a tunable alternative for applications with biomolecules, which allow interactions in either covalent or noncovalent way. Diverse carbon-derived nanomaterial family exhibits unique features and has been widely exploited in various biomedical applications, including biosensing, diagnosis, cancer therapy, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. In this chapter, we aim to present an overview of CNs with a particular interest in intrinsic structural, electronic, and chemical properties. In particular, the detailed properties and features of CNs and its derivatives, including carbon nanotube (CNT), graphene, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced GO (rGO) are summarized. The interesting biomedical applications are also reviewed in order to offer an overview of the possible fields for scientific and industrial applications of CNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Hun Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hanbat National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Yeop Rho
- School of International Engineering and Science, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejin Chang
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hun Lee
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Gachon University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehi Kim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Lee
- Department of Bionano Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Hyun Jun
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.
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Han Z, Porter AE. In situ Electron Microscopy of Complex Biological and Nanoscale Systems: Challenges and Opportunities. FRONTIERS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2020.606253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In situ imaging for direct visualization is important for physical and biological sciences. Research endeavors into elucidating dynamic biological and nanoscale phenomena frequently necessitate in situ and time-resolved imaging. In situ liquid cell electron microscopy (LC-EM) can overcome certain limitations of conventional electron microscopies and offer great promise. This review aims to examine the status-quo and practical challenges of in situ LC-EM and its applications, and to offer insights into a novel correlative technique termed microfluidic liquid cell electron microscopy. We conclude by suggesting a few research ideas adopting microfluidic LC-EM for in situ imaging of biological and nanoscale systems.
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Alam SB, Yang J, Bustillo KC, Ophus C, Ercius P, Zheng H, Chan EM. Hybrid nanocapsules for in situ TEM imaging of gas evolution reactions in confined liquids. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:18606-18615. [PMID: 32970077 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr05281g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) enables the direct observation of dynamic physical and chemical processes in liquids at the nanoscale. Quantitative investigations into reactions with fast kinetics and/or multiple reagents will benefit from further advances in liquid cell design that facilitate rapid in situ mixing and precise control over reagent volumes and concentrations. This work reports the development of inorganic-organic nanocapsules for high-resolution TEM imaging of nanoscale reactions in liquids with well-defined zeptoliter volumes. These hybrid nanocapsules, with 48 nm average diameter, consist of a thin layer of gold coating a lipid vesicle. As a model reaction, the nucleation, growth, and diffusion of nanobubbles generated by the radiolysis of water is investigated inside the nanocapsules. When the nanobubbles are sufficiently small (10-25 nm diameter), they are mobile in the nanocapsules, but their movement deviates from Brownian motion, which may result from geometric confinement by the nanocapsules. Gases and fluids can be transported between two nanocapsules when they fuse, demonstrating in situ mixing without using complex microfluidic schemes. The ability to synthesize nanocapsules with controlled sizes and to monitor dynamics simultaneously inside multiple nanocapsules provides opportunities to investigate nanoscale processes such as single nanoparticle synthesis in confined volumes and biological processes such as biomineralization and membrane dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sardar B Alam
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
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