What are the advantages of using transmission electron microscopy in medical research?
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides high-resolution, detailed images of cellular and sub-cellular structures, facilitating the examination of tissue morphology and virus particle identification. Its ability to reveal ultrastructural details is crucial for diagnosing conditions, studying disease mechanisms, and advancing medical research by allowing for a deeper understanding of pathological processes.
How does transmission electron microscopy work in diagnosing diseases?
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) diagnoses diseases by providing highly magnified images of cells and tissues, allowing the visualization of ultrastructural details. This high resolution helps identify abnormal cellular structures indicative of specific diseases, such as viral particles or cellular inclusions. TEM is particularly beneficial for diagnosing renal diseases and neuropathology.
What is the resolution capability of transmission electron microscopy in medical applications?
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in medical applications can achieve a resolution of about 0.1 to 0.2 nanometers, allowing detailed visualization at the atomic level, crucial for studying cellular structures, proteins, and viruses.
What are the limitations of transmission electron microscopy in studying biological samples?
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has limitations in studying biological samples, including potential sample damage due to electron beam exposure, the requirement for thin sample sections, complex and time-consuming sample preparation, and a lack of ability to analyze living cells as samples must be in a vacuum and are dead.
What preparations are needed for biological samples before using transmission electron microscopy?
Biological samples require fixation, dehydration, embedding, sectioning, and staining before transmission electron microscopy. Fixation preserves cellular structures, dehydration removes water, embedding provides support, sectioning produces thin slices, and staining enhances contrast by using heavy metals like lead or uranium.