The use of dual beam ESEM FIB to reveal the internal ultrastructure of hydroxyapatite nanoparticle-sugar-glass composites.

Microparticles (MP) spray dried from hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticle (NP) sugar suspensions are currently under development as a prolonged release vaccine vehicle. Those with a significant sugar component cannot be sectioned by ultramicrotomy as resins are excluded by the sugar. Focused ion beam (FIB) milling is the only method to prepare thin sections that enables the inspection of the MPs ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Electron microscopic study of novel threadlike structures on the surfaces of mammalian organs.

The ultrastructures of novel threadlike structures (NTSs) and corpuscles on the surfaces of internal organs of rats were investigated using electron microscopy. The samples were studied in situ by using a stereomicroscope and were taken for further morphological analysis. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed a bundle structure of threadlike tissue, which was composed of several 10-micro m-thick subducts.