Use of Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy for in situ Observation of Interaction of Cells with Micro- and Nanoprobes

Authors

Alexander Goponenko, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
B. J. Boyle, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
K. I. Jahan, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Maxim V. Gerashchenko, Harvard Medical School
Dmitri E. Fomenko, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Vadim N. Gladyshev, Harvard Medical SchoolFollow
Yuris A. Dzenis, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2011

Citation

Published in Micro & Nano Letters 6:8 (2011), pp. 603–608; doi: 10.1049/mnl.2011.0166

Comments

Copyright © 2011 The Institution of Engineering and Technology. Used by permission.

Abstract

Precision intracellular sensing, probing and manipulation offer unprecedented opportunities for advances in biological sciences. Next-generation ultra-fine probes will be capable of targeting individual cell organelles. Development of such probes as well as probes capable of penetrating through tough cell walls requires detailed knowledge of cell-probe interaction. This Letter evaluated the applicability of environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) for cell and cell-probe interaction imaging. Several types of cells (plant and yeast cells as well as mouse spermatozoa) were successfully imaged in their natural state, with mouse spermatozoa observed by ESEM for the first time. Computerized stage applied to image was tough plant cell walls interactions with several probes. Substantial damage to the cell walls was observed as a result of microprobe penetration. The damage persisted after the probe withdrawal and there was residue of cellular content on the withdrawn probes. Several mechanisms of probe failure were observed in situ global buckling, localized bending followed by the tip break-off, and plastic deformation with permanent bending in the case of ultra-fine metal nanoprobe. The results demonstrate applicability of ESEM for high-resolution in situ imaging of cells. Observed mechanisms of cell damage and probe failure provide guidance for future development of probes for minimally-invasive intercellular probing.