Method and system for automating sample preparation for microfluidic cryo TEM

摘要

A method and system is provided for automatically preparing transmission electron microscopy (TEM) samples for examination by depositing extremely small samples onto a grid without need for a blotting step. A sample liquid droplet is formed at the end of a capillary, wherein a portion of the liquid is transferred to the TEM sample grid by contact. The excess volume in the liquid droplet is then retracted by an adjacent capillary. After a predetermined time interval, the retraction capillary is moved toward the drop of the sample to remove the excess volume. As compared to a conventional machine, where the blotting procedure can deform the structure of the molecule of interest, the present invention utilizes a very low shear rate for removal of the excess sample fluid.

主权项

1. A method of preparing a cryogenic transmission electron microscopy sample grid, comprising:
providing a sample carrier grid having nanoscale sample openings; forming a fluid droplet at the end of a first capillary; bringing said droplet into contact with a top surface of said carrier grid thereby depositing said droplet onto said top surface; and bringing a second capillary onto contact with said droplet to withdraw a portion of the fluid from said droplet to form a microfluidic sample on said top surface, wherein said steps of forming a fluid droplet, bringing the droplet into contact with a top surface and bringing a second capillary into contact with the droplet are controlled using a computer.