Characterisation of colloidal drug delivery systems from the naked eye to Cryo-FESEM

Poly(ethylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles prepared by interfacial polymerisation on the basis of microemulsions were prepared in this study and both colloidal systems, nanoparticles and microemulsions, were analysed by visual observation and several microscopic techniques. Phase boundaries for the microemulsions of the two pseudoternary systems ethyloleate, polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan mono-oleate/sorbitan monolaurate and water with and without butanol as a cosurfactant were determined by visual observation of the samples. Microemulsions containing liquid crystals were determined by polarisation light microscopy. Using freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy and Cryo-field emission scanning electron microscopy the type of microemulsion (w/o droplet, bicontinuous, solution) was characterised. Nanoparticles prepared from the different types of microemulsion were additionally observed by conventional scanning electron microscopy. The size of the nanoparticles obtained from electron microscopy was in good agreement with particle sizing techniques (photon correlation spectroscopy) from earlier studies and no morphological differences could be observed in particles prepared from the different types of microemulsions. Cryo-field emission scanning electron microscopy proved to be a most valuable technique in the visualisation of the colloidal systems as samples could be observed close to their natural state.     

A correlative optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy approach to locating nanoparticles in brain tumors

The growing use of nanoparticles in biomedical applications, including cancer diagnosis and treatment, demands the capability to exactly locate them within complex biological systems. In this work a correlative optical and scanning electron microscopy technique was developed to locate and observe multi-modal gold core nanoparticle accumulation in brain tumor models. Entire brain sections from mice containing orthotopic brain tumors injected intravenously with nanoparticles were imaged using both optical microscopy to identify the brain tumor, and scanning electron microscopy to identify the individual nanoparticles. Gold-based nanoparticles were readily identified in the scanning electron microscope using backscattered electron imaging as bright spots against a darker background. This information was then correlated to determine the exact location of the nanoparticles within the brain tissue. The nanoparticles were located only in areas that contained tumor cells, and not in the surrounding healthy brain tissue. This correlative technique provides a powerful method to relate the macro- and micro-scale features visible in light microscopy with the nanoscale features resolvable in scanning electron microscopy.     

共焦扫描荧光显微镜的信噪比与测量精度

激光扫描共焦显微术和多光子显微术等新的显微成像技术可以对厚的生物样品实现光学断层成像 ,因而在生物医学诊断领域具有重要的应用前境。在Fried的一维分辨度理论的基础上 ,系统地讨论了运用共焦扫描荧光显微术在进行光学断层成像时 ,其光学断层平面分辨度与信噪比之间的定量关系 ,建立了实际显微成像系统平面测量精度的定量计算方法。所得出的结果对于选择共焦扫描显微成像系统的最佳参数及评价所设计的显微成像系统的性能具有重要的意义。     

Application of moiré fringes in investigations of subsurface imperfections — a study of dislocations and strain fields under the reconstructed surface layer of Au(001) by scanning tunneling microscopy

It is demonstrated that the moiré fringes of the incommensurate quasihexagonal reconstructed overlayer and the underlying Au(001) substrate can be used as a “magnifier” to study subsurface imperfections with scanning tunneling microscopy, and that an unprecedented lateral precision of better than 0.1 Å can be achieved in the measurement of atomic shifts by means of scanning tunneling microscopy. As moiré fringes exist in many surfaces and adsorbate systems the method is expected to have wide applications.     

Micromechanics of polymers

Polymers possess a very large inherent capacity for property modifications. The bridge between structure or morphology and mechanical properties is created by the micromechanical processes of deformation and fracture, the “micromechanics.” Developments mainly in electron microscopy (EM) (scanning, transmission, and high-voltage electron microscopy) and scanning force microscopy (SFM) opened up a wide range of experiments previously impossible, including the in situ study of micromechanical processes. These new techniques are reviewed and used to study micromechanical properties of amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers and several toughened polymers. On the basis of the detailed knowledge of micromechanical mechanisms, a new method of polymer modification becomes a realistic possibility, a method of micromechanical construction of new polymeric systems.     

Phase behaviors of binary mixtures composed of banana-shaped and calamitic mesogens

In this work, five mixtures with different concentrations of banana-shaped and calamitic compounds have been prepared and subsequently studied by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction on non-oriented samples. The phase sequences and molecular parameters of the binary systems are presented.     

Structural and Photoluminescence Studies on Nanosized Samarium-Doped Strontium Barium Niobate Ceramics

Nanosized pure and Samarium-doped Strontium Barium Niobate ceramic systems were synthesized by an aqueous organic gel route. The systems were characterized for their structure by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images. Photoluminescence measurements of Samarium-doped nanosized system showed emission peaks at 562, 598, and 644 nm when excited at 406 nm. These transitions are assigned to the 4f-4f transitions of Samarium ions in the host lattice. From the measured decay profiles, the lifetime of nanosized systems were calculated. The Samarium-doped Strontium Barium Niobate nanosystems are expected to find applications in the field of photonics.     

Exploring the third dimension: Volume electron microscopy comes of age

Groundbreaking advances in volume electron microscopy and specimen preparation are enabling the 3-dimensional visualisation of specimens with unprecedented detail, and driving a gratifying resurgence of interest in the ultrastructural examination of cellular systems. Serial section techniques, previously the domain of specialists, are becoming increasingly automated with the development of systems such as the automatic tape-collecting ultramicrotome, and serial blockface and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopes. These changes are rapidly broadening the scope of biomedical studies to which volume electron microscopy techniques can be applied beyond the brain. Further innovations in microscope design are also in the pipeline, which have the potential to enhance the speed and quality of data collection. The recent introduction of integrated light and electron microscopy systems will revolutionise correlative light and volume electron microscopy studies, by enabling the sequential collection of data from light and electron imaging modalities without intermediate specimen manipulation. In doing so, the acquisition of comprehensive functional information and direct correlation with ultrastructural details within a 3-dimensional reference space will become routine. The prospects for volume electron microscopy are therefore bright, and the stage is set for a challenging and exciting future.     

双光子和多光子共焦显微镜的成像理论

对双光子和多光子共焦扫描显微镜的成像理论作了系统的理论分析,导出了双光子和多光子共焦显微镜成像系统的三维点扩散函数和三维光学传递函数,研究结果表明：双光子共焦显微镜比单光子共焦显微镜具有更高的横向分辨率和纵向分辨率,而多光子共焦扫描显微镜又比双光子共焦扫描显微镜具有更高的空间分辨率. 关键词：     

Electrochemical tip-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for microscopic studies of electrochemical interfaces

The review describes electrochemical applications of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). These applications combine the merits of both scanning probe microscopy (SPM) and Raman spectroscopy, which enables us to simultaneously obtain high-resolution images of surface morphology and chemical information under the electrochemical environment. This review, first summarizes the pioneering work done on the TERS systems that operate in liquid and electrochemical environments, and then gives an overview of the typical instrumentation of electrochemical TERS (EC-TERS) based on electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM). Furthermore, this review summarizes the advancements in EC-TERS studies of events that occur at the interfaces. These include potential dependent structural changes and electrochemical reactions. Finally, we discuss the current issues and future prospects of EC-TERS for microscopic studies of electrochemical interfaces.     

Physicochemical Processes in the Synthesis of New Detectors of X-Ray Radiation Based on YAG:Ce-Halide Fluxes

Using the data of X-ray phase analysis, optical spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy of YAG:Ce luminophores, the main types of interactions in complex systems formed by a light-emitting diode luminophore and halide fluxing agents are determined, which cause intense luminescence in the ultraviolet region.     

Fast-scanning two-photon fluorescence imaging based on a microelectromechanical systems two- dimensional scanning mirror

Towards overcoming the size limitations of conventional two-photon fluorescence microscopy, we introduce two-photon imaging based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) scanners. Single crystalline silicon scanning mirrors that are 0.75 mm x 0.75 mm in size and driven in two dimensions by microfabricated vertical comb electrostatic actuators can provide optical deflection angles through a range of approximately16 degrees . Using such scanners we demonstrated two-photon microscopy and microendoscopy with fast-axis acquisition rates up to 3.52 kHz.     

The structure of particles and combustion parameters of compositions with nanoaluminum

Aluminum nanoparticles modified with various additives (Ba, gasoline, and organosilicon resin) were obtained by arc plasma recondensation. The chemical composition, morphology, and thermal properties of nanoparticles and the characteristics of combustion of energy-producing condensed systems containing nanoaluminum were studied experimentally. The structure of the particles was determined by X-ray diffraction (a Rigaku Geigerflex diffractometer), transmission electron microscopy (JEM 2000 EX-II), scanning electron microscopy (JEOL JSM 7401F), atomic force microscopy (SOLVER P-47), and differential scanning calorimetry (NETZSCH STA 409). The replacement of aluminum powder with micron particles with nanodisperse aluminum increased the rate of combustion of stoichiometric compositions on the basis of ammonium perchlorate by an order of magnitude at a pressure of 40 atm. Simultaneously, the mean linear diameter of agglomerates collected from the surface of combustion decreased from 28 to 2 μm. The results are evidence that the use of energy-producing condensed compositions with nanoaluminum offers much promise for increasing the effectiveness of solid fuel rocket engines.     

Characteristics of sputtered TaBx thin films as diffusion barriers between copper and silicon

Thin films of TaB_x interposed between Cu and Si are examined here as diffusion barriers for Cu metallization. In order to investigate the performance of Cu/TaB_x/Si contact systems, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), sheet resistance measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) depth profile were used. Results of this study indicate that the barrier characteristics are significantly affected by the B/Ta ratio. In addition, the failure mechanism for the Cu/TaB_x/Si contact systems is also discussed herein.     

Photoacoustic microscopy by scanning mirror-based synthetic aperture focusing technique

Photoacoustic imaging with a synthetic aperture focusing technique(SAFT) is an effective method to improve the lateral resolution for out-of-focus regions in scanning microscopy systems, which commonly require a decent motorized scanning stage for a lateral scan of a transducer to obtain a cross-sectional image. In this study, we propose and test a photoacoustic imaging system with a scanning mirror-based SAFT(SM-SAFT) for simple and fast data acquisition, without the need for a physical scan of the transducer. Photoacoustic images of hair phantoms acquired by SM-SAFT are demonstrated, serving as a proof-of-concept experiment to show the feasibility and potential of the proposed approach.     

Reentrant surface melting of colloidal hard spheres

Concentrated suspensions of model colloidal hard spheres at a wall were studied in real space by means of time-resolved fluorescence confocal scanning microscopy. Both structure and dynamics of these systems differ dramatically from their bulk analogs (i.e., far away from a wall). In particular, systems that are a glass in the bulk show significant hexagonal order at a wall. Upon increasing the volume fraction of the colloids, a reentrant melting transition involving a hexatic structure is observed. The last observation points to two-dimensional behavior of matter at walls.     

激波诱导下纳米铝粉与微米铝粉的爆炸特征对比研究

对比研究了入射激波诱导下纳米铝粉和微米铝粉与环氧丙烷混合物快速反应系统中的爆炸特征.利用多台单色谱仪同步采集技术实验测定了二种反应混合物在不同诱导激波中强度作用下的点火延迟时间.为获得爆炸系统内部信息利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM),X射线衍射分析仪(XRD),X射线能谱(XPS)对相应铝粉反应生成物的结构、态貌、表面氧化层厚度进行了表征和分析.结果表明:TEM结果表明纳米铝粉生成物为絮状、针状和纤维状,而微米铝粉生成物为球状且体积增大;XRD结果显示在压缩区、点火区、燃烧区、爆炸区、传播区、碎片压缩致冷区生 关键词： 诱导激波 点火 XPS能谱 铝粉     

Probe-based recording technology

The invention of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) prompted researchers to contemplate whether such technology could be used as the basis for the storage and retrieval of information. With magnetic data storage technology facing limits in storage density due to the thermal instability of magnetic bits, the super-paramagnetic limit, the heir-apparent for information storage at higher densities appeared to be variants of the STM or similar probe-based storage techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM). Among these other techniques that could provide replacement technology for magnetic storage, near-field optical scanning optical microscopy (NSOM or SNOM) has also been investigated. Another alternative probe-based storage technology called atomic resolution storage (ARS) is also currently under development. An overview of these various technologies is herein presented, with an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages inherent in each particularly with respect to reduced device dimensions. The role of micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) is emphasized.     

Study of Perylenetetracarboxylic Acid Dimethylimide Films by Cyclic Thermal Desorption and Scanning Probe Microscopy

Some results of studying the direct-current (DC) conductivity of perylenetetracarboxylic acid dimethylimide films by cyclic oxygen thermal desorption are presented. The microscopic parameters of hopping electron transport over localized impurity and intrinsic states were determined. The bandgap width and the sign of major current carriers were determined by scanning probe microscopy methods (atomic force microscopy, scanning probe spectroscopy, and photoassisted Kelvin probe force microscopy). The possibility of the application of photoassisted scanning tunneling microscopy for the nanoscale phase analysis of photoconductive films is discussed.     

Defects analysis of Al/Si artificial nanocluster with moiré fringes

In this paper, it is demonstrated the defects play a very important role in determining the quality of artificial nanoclusters grown. The surface strain (stress) distribution around defects in Al artificial nanocluster is analyzed by Moiré fringes pattern. The moiré fringes generated by scanning lines in monitor and nanocluster array can be used as a “magnifier” to study surface imperfections with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). As moiré fringes’ exist in many ordered nanostructures and adsorbate systems, the method is expected to have wide applications.