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Pu S, Gong C, Robertson AW. Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy and its applications. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191204. [PMID: 32218950 PMCID: PMC7029903 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has long been an essential tool for understanding the structure of materials. Over the past couple of decades, this venerable technique has undergone a number of revolutions, such as the development of aberration correction for atomic level imaging, the realization of cryogenic TEM for imaging biological specimens, and new instrumentation permitting the observation of dynamic systems in situ. Research in the latter has rapidly accelerated in recent years, based on a silicon-chip architecture that permits a versatile array of experiments to be performed under the high vacuum of the TEM. Of particular interest is using these silicon chips to enclose fluids safely inside the TEM, allowing us to observe liquid dynamics at the nanoscale. In situ imaging of liquid phase reactions under TEM can greatly enhance our understanding of fundamental processes in fields from electrochemistry to cell biology. Here, we review how in situ TEM experiments of liquids can be performed, with a particular focus on microchip-encapsulated liquid cell TEM. We will cover the basics of the technique, and its strengths and weaknesses with respect to related in situ TEM methods for characterizing liquid systems. We will show how this technique has provided unique insights into nanomaterial synthesis and manipulation, battery science and biological cells. A discussion on the main challenges of the technique, and potential means to mitigate and overcome them, will also be presented.
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Gilmore BL, Varano AC, Dearnaley W, Liang Y, Marcinkowski BC, Dukes MJ, Kelly DF. Preparation of Tunable Microchips to Visualize Native Protein Complexes for Single-Particle Electron Microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1764:45-58. [PMID: 29605907 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7759-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in technology have enabled single-particle electron microscopy (EM) to rapidly progress as a preferred tool to study protein assemblies. Newly developed materials and methods present viable alternatives to traditional EM specimen preparation. Improved lipid monolayer purification reagents offer considerable flexibility, while ultrathin silicon nitride films provide superior imaging properties to the structural study of protein complexes. Here, we describe the steps for combining monolayer purification with silicon nitride microchips to create a tunable approach for the EM community.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A Cameron Varano
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, USA.,Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Graduate Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | | | - Yanping Liang
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Deborah F Kelly
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, USA. .,Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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Dwyer JR, Harb M. Through a Window, Brightly: A Review of Selected Nanofabricated Thin-Film Platforms for Spectroscopy, Imaging, and Detection. APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY 2017; 71:2051-2075. [PMID: 28714316 DOI: 10.1177/0003702817715496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present a review of the use of selected nanofabricated thin films to deliver a host of capabilities and insights spanning bioanalytical and biophysical chemistry, materials science, and fundamental molecular-level research. We discuss approaches where thin films have been vital, enabling experimental studies using a variety of optical spectroscopies across the visible and infrared spectral range, electron microscopies, and related techniques such as electron energy loss spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and single molecule sensing. We anchor this broad discussion by highlighting two particularly exciting exemplars: a thin-walled nanofluidic sample cell concept that has advanced the discovery horizons of ultrafast spectroscopy and of electron microscopy investigations of in-liquid samples; and a unique class of thin-film-based nanofluidic devices, designed around a nanopore, with expansive prospects for single molecule sensing. Free-standing, low-stress silicon nitride membranes are a canonical structural element for these applications, and we elucidate the fabrication and resulting features-including mechanical stability, optical properties, X-ray and electron scattering properties, and chemical nature-of this material in this format. We also outline design and performance principles and include a discussion of underlying material preparations and properties suitable for understanding the use of alternative thin-film materials such as graphene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Dwyer
- 1 Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Maher Harb
- 2 Department of Physics and Materials, Science & Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Cameron Varano A, Rahimi A, Dukes MJ, Poelzing S, M McDonald S, Kelly DF. Visualizing virus particle mobility in liquid at the nanoscale. Chem Commun (Camb) 2016; 51:16176-9. [PMID: 26355472 DOI: 10.1039/c5cc05744b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Currently, there remains a critical need to develop real-time imaging resources for life sciences. Here, we demonstrate the use of high resolution in situ imaging to observe biological complexes in liquid at the nanoscale. Using a model virus system, we produced the first time-resolved videos of individual biological complexes moving in solution within an electron microscope.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cameron Varano
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA.
| | - Amina Rahimi
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA.
| | | | - Steven Poelzing
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA.
| | - Sarah M McDonald
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA.
| | - Deborah F Kelly
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA.
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Florian PE, Rouillé Y, Ruta S, Nichita N, Roseanu A. Recent advances in human viruses imaging studies. J Basic Microbiol 2016; 56:591-607. [PMID: 27059598 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201500575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Ecaterina Florian
- Department of ; Ligand-Receptor Interactions; Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy; Bucharest Romania
| | - Yves Rouillé
- Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL); Inserm U1019; CNRS UMR8204; Institut Pasteur de Lille; Université Lille Nord de France; Lille France
| | - Simona Ruta
- Department of Emergent Diseases; Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology; Bucharest 030304 Romania
| | - Norica Nichita
- Department of Viral Glycoproteins; Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy; Bucharest Romania
| | - Anca Roseanu
- Department of ; Ligand-Receptor Interactions; Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy; Bucharest Romania
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Zhang Q, Li H, Gan L, Ma Y, Golberg D, Zhai T. In situ fabrication and investigation of nanostructures and nanodevices with a microscope. Chem Soc Rev 2016; 45:2694-713. [DOI: 10.1039/c6cs00161k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The widespread availability of nanostructures and nanodevices has placed strict requirements on their comprehensive characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
- Wuhan 430074
- P. R. China
| | - Huiqiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
- Wuhan 430074
- P. R. China
| | - Lin Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
- Wuhan 430074
- P. R. China
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
- Wuhan 430074
- P. R. China
| | - Dmitri Golberg
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA)
- National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)
- Ibaraki 305-0044
- Japan
| | - Tianyou Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Material Processing and Die & Mould Technology
- School of Materials Science and Engineering
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)
- Wuhan 430074
- P. R. China
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Abstract
Transmission electron microscopy offers structural and compositional information with atomic resolution, but its use is restricted to thin, solid samples. Liquid samples, particularly those involving water, have been challenging because of the need to form a thin liquid layer that is stable within the microscope vacuum. Liquid cell electron microscopy is a developing technique that allows us to apply the powerful capabilities of the electron microscope to imaging and analysis of liquid specimens. We describe its impact in materials science and biology. We discuss how its applications have expanded via improvements in equipment and experimental techniques, enabling new capabilities and stimuli for samples in liquids, and offering the potential to solve grand challenge problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances M Ross
- IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, 1101 Kitchawan Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA.
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A Molecular Toolkit to Visualize Native Protein Assemblies in the Context of Human Disease. Sci Rep 2015; 5:14440. [PMID: 26395823 PMCID: PMC4585766 DOI: 10.1038/srep14440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a new molecular toolkit to investigate protein assemblies natively formed in the context of human disease. The system employs tunable microchips that can be decorated with switchable adaptor molecules to select for target proteins of interest and analyze them using molecular microscopy. Implementing our new streamlined microchip approach, we could directly visualize BRCA1 gene regulatory complexes from patient-derived cancer cells for the first time.
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Pohlmann ES, Patel K, Guo S, Dukes MJ, Sheng Z, Kelly DF. Real-time visualization of nanoparticles interacting with glioblastoma stem cells. NANO LETTERS 2015; 15:2329-2335. [PMID: 25734907 DOI: 10.1021/nl504481k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticle-based therapy represents a novel and promising approach to treat glioblastoma, the most common and lethal malignant brain cancer. Although similar therapies have achieved significant cytotoxicity in cultured glioblastoma or glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs), the lack of an appropriate approach to monitor interactions between cells and nanoparticle-based therapies impedes their further clinical application in human patients. To address this critical issue, we first obtained NOTCH1 positive GSCs from patient-derived primary cultures. We then developed a new imaging approach to directly observe the dynamic nature of nanoparticles at the molecular level using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Utilizing these tools we were able to visualize real-time movements of nanoparticles interacting with GSCs for the first time. Overall, we show strong proof-of-concept results that real-time visualization of nanoparticles in single cells can be achieved at the nanoscale using TEM, thereby providing a powerful platform for the development of nanotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliot S Pohlmann
- †Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
- ‡Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
| | - Kaya Patel
- †Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
| | - Sujuan Guo
- †Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
| | - Madeline J Dukes
- §Protochips, Inc., Applications Science, 616 Hutton Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Zhi Sheng
- †Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
- ‡Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
- ∥Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- #Faculty of Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Deborah F Kelly
- †Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
- ‡Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, Virginia 24016, United States
- ⊥Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
- #Faculty of Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
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Liu L, Liu Y, Wu W, Miller CM, Dickey EC. Visualization of film-forming polymer particles with a liquid cell technique in a transmission electron microscope. Analyst 2015; 140:6330-4. [DOI: 10.1039/c5an01067e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy technique provides the opportunity to image room-temperature film-forming polymer particles in solution. Together with staining technique, it can also be used as a tool to characterize the internal structure of polymer particles in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yi Liu
- Analytical Instrumentation Facility
- North Carolina State University
- Raleigh
- USA
| | | | | | - Elizabeth C. Dickey
- Analytical Instrumentation Facility
- North Carolina State University
- Raleigh
- USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering
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Dukes MJ, Thomas R, Damiano J, Klein KL, Balasubramaniam S, Kayandan S, Riffle JS, Davis RM, McDonald SM, Kelly DF. Improved microchip design and application for in situ transmission electron microscopy of macromolecules. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2014; 20:338-345. [PMID: 24331164 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927613013858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the fundamental properties of macromolecules has enhanced the development of emerging technologies used to improve biomedical research. Currently, there is a critical need for innovative platforms that can illuminate the function of biomedical reagents in a native environment. To address this need, we have developed an in situ approach to visualize the dynamic behavior of biomedically relevant macromolecules at the nanoscale. Newly designed silicon nitride devices containing integrated "microwells" were used to enclose active macromolecular specimens in liquid for transmission electron microscopy imaging purposes.We were able to successfully examine novel magnetic resonance imaging contrast reagents, micelle suspensions, liposome carrier vehicles, and transcribing viral assemblies. With each specimen tested, the integrated microwells adequately maintained macromolecules in discrete local environments while enabling thin liquid layers to be produced.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kate L Klein
- 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | | | - Sanem Kayandan
- 3 Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Judy S Riffle
- 3 Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Richey M Davis
- 3 Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Sarah M McDonald
- 6 Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA
| | - Deborah F Kelly
- 3 Macromolecules and Interfaces Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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Lu J, Aabdin Z, Loh ND, Bhattacharya D, Mirsaidov U. Nanoparticle dynamics in a nanodroplet. NANO LETTERS 2014; 14:2111-5. [PMID: 24641092 DOI: 10.1021/nl500766j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We describe the dynamics of 3-10 nm gold nanoparticles encapsulated by ∼30 nm liquid nanodroplets on a flat solid substrate and find that the diffusive motion of these nanoparticles is damped due to strong interactions with the substrate. Such damped dynamics enabled us to obtain time-resolved observations of encapsulated nanoparticles coalescing into larger particles. Techniques described here serve as a platform to study chemical and physical dynamics under highly confined conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Lu
- Center for Bioimaging Sciences and Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore , 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
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Chong MK, Chua AJS, Tan TTT, Tan SH, Ng ML. Microscopy techniques in flavivirus research. Micron 2013; 59:33-43. [PMID: 24530363 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2013.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The Flavivirus genus is composed of many medically important viruses that cause high morbidity and mortality, which include Dengue and West Nile viruses. Various molecular and biochemical techniques have been developed in the endeavour to study flaviviruses. However, microscopy techniques still have irreplaceable roles in the identification of novel virus pathogens and characterization of morphological changes in virus-infected cells. Fluorescence microscopy contributes greatly in understanding the fundamental viral protein localizations and virus-host protein interactions during infection. Electron microscopy remains the gold standard for visualizing ultra-structural features of virus particles and infected cells. New imaging techniques and combinatory applications are continuously being developed to push the limit of resolution and extract more quantitative data. Currently, correlative live cell imaging and high resolution three-dimensional imaging have already been achieved through the tandem use of optical and electron microscopy in analyzing biological specimens. Microscopy techniques are also used to measure protein binding affinities and determine the mobility pattern of proteins in cells. This chapter will consolidate on the applications of various well-established microscopy techniques in flavivirus research, and discuss how recently developed microscopy techniques can potentially help advance our understanding in these membrane viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mun Keat Chong
- Flavivirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4 Level 3, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Anthony Jin Shun Chua
- Flavivirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4 Level 3, Singapore 117545, Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Centre for Life Sciences (CeLS), 28 Medical Drive, #05-01, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Terence Tze Tong Tan
- Flavivirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4 Level 3, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Suat Hoon Tan
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 12 Medical Drive, MD5, Singapore 117597, Singapore
| | - Mah Lee Ng
- Flavivirology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, MD4 Level 3, Singapore 117545, Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Centre for Life Sciences (CeLS), 28 Medical Drive, #05-01, Singapore 117456, Singapore; Electron Microscopy Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 12 Medical Drive, MD5, Singapore 117597, Singapore.
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Molecular Surveillance of Viral Processes Using Silicon Nitride Membranes. MICROMACHINES 2013. [DOI: 10.3390/mi4010090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Mirsaidov U, Zheng H, Casana Y, Matsudaira P. Response to “Electron Microscopy of Biological Specimens in Liquid Water”. Biophys J 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2012.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
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