3D elemental and structural analysis of biological specimens using electrons and ions

Published

August 26, 2010

Author(s)

Keana C. Scott

Abstract

We demonstrate the utility of focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB SEM) combined with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) for 3-dimensional (3D) morphological and elemental correlative analysis of sub-cellular features. Although recent advances in super-resolution light microscopy techniques and traditional transmission electron microscopy methods can provide cellular imaging at a wide range of length-scales, simultaneous 3D morphological and elemental imaging of cellular features at nanometer scale can only be achieved with FIB SEM EDS technique. We demonstrate the technique by analyzing the 3D silicon cell wall structure of a marine diatom, Thalassiosira pseudonana. This study also highlights the limitations of the technique in its current state and suggests several possible improvements needed for the routine use of the technique for biological specimens.

Citation

Journal of Microscopy

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

"X-ray microanalysis", "EDS", "focused ion beam", "FIB", "SEM", "3D elemental mapping", "diatom", "biological".

Citation

Scott, K. (2010), 3D elemental and structural analysis of biological specimens using electrons and ions, Journal of Microscopy, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=905503 (Accessed October 14, 2025)