Imaging of soft materials using in situ liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy

He, Kun; Shokuhfar, Tolou

doi:10.1088/1361-648x/aaf616

Cited by 33 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 95 publications

(143 reference statements)

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“…It would be also fascinating to expand on the in-situ liquid TEM studiesc,d,e for unveiling the dynamic antimicrobial events of BP nanosheets. 69,70,71…”

Section: Antibacterial Activity Of Bp Nanosheetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

TEM Studies on Antibacterial Mechanisms of Black Phosphorous Nanosheets

Phakatkar

Firlar

Alzate

et al. 2020

IJN

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Purpose: Recently, two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials are gaining tremendous attention as novel antibacterial platforms to combat against continuously evolving antimicrobial resistance levels. Among the family of 2D nanomaterials, black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets have demonstrated promising potential for biomedical applications. However, there is a need to gain nanoscale insights of the antibacterial activity of BP nanosheets which lies at the center of technical challenges. Methods: Ultra-large BP nanosheets were synthesized by liquid-exfoliation method in the eco-friendly deoxygenated water. Synthesized BP nanosheets were characterized by TEM, AFM, and Raman spectroscopy techniques and their chemical stability was evaluated by EDS and EELS elemental analysis. The antibacterial activity of BP nanosheets was evaluated at nanoscale by the ultramicrotome TEM technique. Further, HAADF-STEM image and EDS elemental line map of the damaged bacterium were utilized to analyze the presence of diagnostic ions. Supportive SEM and ATR-FTIR studies were carried out to confirm the bacterial cell wall damage. In vitro colony counting method was utilized to evaluate the antibacterial performance of ultra-large BP nanosheets. Results: Elemental EELS and EDS analysis of BP nanosheets stored in deoxygenated water confirmed the absence of oxygen peak. TEM studies indicate the various events of bacterial cell damage with the lost cellular metabolism and structural integrity. Colony counting test results show that as-synthesized BP nanosheets (100 μg/mL) can kill ~95% bacteria within 12 hours. Conclusion: TEM studies demonstrate the various events of E. coli membrane damage and the loss of structural integrity. These events include the BP nanosheets interaction with the bacterial cell wall, cytoplasmic leakage, detachment of cytoplasm from the cell membrane, reduced density of lipid bilayer and agglomerated DNA structure. The EDS elemental line mapping of the damaged bacterium confirms the disrupted cell membrane permeability and the lost cellular metabolism. SEM micrographs and ATR-FTIR supportive results confirm the bacterial cell wall damage.

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“…It would be also fascinating to expand on the in-situ liquid TEM studiesc,d,e for unveiling the dynamic antimicrobial events of BP nanosheets. 69,70,71…”

Section: Antibacterial Activity Of Bp Nanosheetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

TEM Studies on Antibacterial Mechanisms of Black Phosphorous Nanosheets

Phakatkar

Firlar

Alzate

et al. 2020

IJN

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“…13 Commercial liquid cells with silicon nitride windows are available recently, even with flow lines. 14 Hereinto, graphene-sealed liquid cells (GLCs) are liquid cells using one or two graphene sheets with atomic thickness to encapsulate liquid specimens which allows the excellent image resolution at an atomic level; 11 and owing to the electrical conductivity, GLCs can be even used to protect radiation-sensitive specimens, such DNAs 15 and proteins 16 , by efficiently scavenge reactive radical species (Fig. 2).…”

Section: Design and Fabrication Of Liquid Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Dynamic Processes of Nanomaterials Using in Situ Liquid Phase TEM Technologies: 2014-2019

Guo¹,

Jiang²,

Peng³

et al. 2020

Eng. Sci.

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The dynamic processes of nanomaterials are common phenomena in material science and biological system. Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with high resolution provides unprecedented insights into dynamical processes by in situ imaging. This review summarizes the technical developments and the breakthroughs during 2014-2019 in the field of nanoparticles nucleation and growth, nanoparticles corrosion, self-assembly of nanomaterials, dynamical processes in vivo, in situ electrochemistry and radiolysis induced reaction in energy systems. The recent research developments in the liquid-phase TEM will promote advancement for material science and bioscience.

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“…Graphene sandwiching of biological samples not only preserves fine cellular structures and retains the water content of samples, but also mitigates the destructive beam‐induced damage by dissipating electrons and charges to relatively far distances. Since the introduction of GLC technique to bio‐EM, promising results have been reported on proteins and sub‐units of biological cells as well as live human/bacterial cells in their natural habitat …”

Section: Glc Microscopy For Materials Science Life Sciences and Beyondmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Graphene‐Based Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy: Working Principles, Opportunities, and Challenges

2019

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Imaging materials and biological structures in a liquid environment pose a significant challenge for conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) due to stringent requirement of ultrahigh vacuum design in the microscope column. The most recent liquid‐cell TEM technique, graphene liquid‐cell (GLC) microscopy, employs only layers of graphene to encapsulate liquid specimens. Recent efforts with GLC–TEM have demonstrated superior imaging resolution of beam‐sensitive specimens. Herein, the parameters that affect the quality of GLC analysis, including the graphene transfer onto TEM grids, are reviewed. Several important factors that affect the in situ TEM imaging of specimens, including the variations in GLC geometries and capillary pressure are discussed. The interaction between the electron beam and the liquid along with the possibility for artifacts or the formation of radical ions is also highlighted in this review. The scientific discoveries enabled by GLC–TEM in the areas of nucleation and growth of crystals, corrosion, battery science, as well as high‐resolution imaging of organelles and proteins are also briefly discussed. Finally, possible future research directions of GLC–TEM and the associated challenges are discussed. The synergistic effort to accomplish the proposed research directions has the potential to yield new discoveries in both materials and life sciences.

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Imaging of soft materials using in situ liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy

Cited by 33 publications

References 95 publications

<p>TEM Studies on Antibacterial Mechanisms of Black Phosphorous Nanosheets</p>

<p>TEM Studies on Antibacterial Mechanisms of Black Phosphorous Nanosheets</p>

Investigating Dynamic Processes of Nanomaterials Using in Situ Liquid Phase TEM Technologies: 2014-2019

Advances in Graphene‐Based Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy: Working Principles, Opportunities, and Challenges

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