Services

U28-S016. Confocal Microscopy

Confocal Microscopy

Laser-scanning confocal microscopy is a very popular technique that uses a combination of laser illumination and a “pinhole” mask to ensure that only fluorescence from the focal plane reaches the detector. This avoids the characteristic blur typical of conventional fluorescence microscopy and allows images to captured as detailed optical slices that can be used to build up rich 3D models. Confocal microscopy is one of the most versatile and widely used techniques in optical microscopy. We offer Leica SP5 confocal microscopes featuring HyD hybrid detectors for the best possible sensitivity, as well as full environmental control for live cells and high-speed resonant scanning.

Customer benefits

We have SOPs and ISO9001 certification. We also have specialist technicians for the use of the equipment.

This service is essential to:

• 3D imaging of fixed multi-color immunofluorescence preparations
• Long-term and high-speed live cell imaging
• FRAP (Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching) and photoactivation methods for studying molecular dynamics
• Foster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) for studying molecular interactions at sub–nanometric distances

Target customer

Any company or research group interested in:

• Integrated cellular interaction analyses; we offer rapid assays analyzing uptake and subcellular localization of fluorescently-labeled molecules in standard cultured cell lines
• Quantitative, semi-quantitative, and comparative analyses of fluorescent expression/staining in different models. We can advise on the required controls or limitations of different methodologies
• Co-localisation studies comparing localization with standard sub-cellular markers, fluorescent proteins, and antibodies with rigorous statistical analysis performed using commercial (IMARIS) and open-source (FIJI) co-localization analysis tools
• We specialize in the long-term (>4d) microscopic visualization of cell models, including primary cells, model organisms, and bacterial colonies
• 3D quantification and visualization using the advanced IMARIS 3D analysis package, including volume quantification, 3D object tracking, and cell type and subcellular organelle counting

U28-S015. Sample vitrification

Sample vitrification

The Vitrobot is an automated device for vitrification (plunge freezing) of aqueous samples.
Conventional TEM requires high vacuum inside the microscope column, therefore all samples need to be dried out before observation. Cryo-TEM is a good alternative for the direct observation of liquid samples in its original state: specimens are vitrified in liquid ethane or propane and analyzed in the microscope at low temperature. The vitrification method is based in a very fast sample cooling that prevents the formation of crystalline ice. Moreover, the thin layer of amorphous ice formed during the vitrification process protects the material from electron beam damage.
The Vitrobot Mark IV provides precise but flexible control of all critical parameters in the plunge-freezing process.

Customer benefits

We have SOPs and ISO9001 certification. We also have specialist technicians for the use of the equipment.

The new Vitrobot Mark IV is an unit that offers great value to the demanding scientific areas of cell biology and molecular imaging as well as being very suitable for food, industrial, pharmaceutical and nanotechnological applications.

Target customer

Any company or research group interested in plunge-freezing of samples in water solution (vitrification) for cryo-transmission electron microscopy.

Additional information

• Albumin-covered lipid nanocapsules exhibit enhanced uptake performance by breast-tumor cells. DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.02.024

U28-S014. Freeze substitution

Freeze substitution

Freeze Substitution (FS) of specimens in methanol, acetone or any other FS media at low temperatures is the next step following high pressure freezing and other cryo-fixation methods.
Progressive Lowering of Temperature (PLT) allows substitution and resin infiltration of chemically fixed specimens. Finally, the sample is polymerized with epoxy resins for conventional electron microscopy or tomography analysis, or with acrylic resins under UV light for immunolabelling studies.

Customer benefits

We have SOPs and ISO9001 certification. We also have specialist technicians for the use of the equipment.

Fundamental research in cellular and structural biology for electron tomography and immulabelling studies at room temperature, avoiding cryo-electron microscopy drawbacks.

Target customer

Any company or research group interested in:

• Structrural biology.
• Cell and tissue samples processed after high pressure or not suitable for high temperature resin embedding.

U28-S013. High-pressure freezing

High-pressure freezing

High pressure freezing is the most significant sample preparation method for morphological and immunocytochemical high resolution studies for electron microscopy.
High pressure freezing has made it possible to observe aqueous biological and industrial samples near to native state.
The 2100 bar of high pressure applied to the sample during high pressure freezing using the Leica EM HPM100 suppresses ice crystal formation and growth, while cryo-immobilization immediately after pressurization prevents structural damage to the sample.
High pressure frozen samples can be completely vitrified up to a thickness of 200 µm, a 10 to 40-fold increase in the depth of amorphous ice.

Customer benefits

We have SOPs and ISO9001 certification. We also have specialist technicians for the use of the equipment.

Cellular ultrastructure visualization using electron tomography to obtain a 3D reconstruction of cells and their internal structures close to a native state, improving the information provided by standard 2D analysis.

Target customer

Any company or research group interested in:

• Structural biology.
• Cell and tissue samples not suitable for chemical fixation.

U28-S012. Cryo-ultramicrotomy (Onsite&Remote) OUTSTANDING

Sectioning of specimens for cryo-electron microscopy examination, using a cryo-chamber accessory to keep low temperature of samples previously cryo-fixed with the high-pressure freezing system.

Applications:
High quality sectioning of specimens for cryo-electron microscopy examination.
Applied in a cryo-electron microscopy workflow, after the high pressure freezing of samples, mainly for structural biology, immunohistochemistry for electron microscopy (Tokuyashu technique for thermal- sensible epitopes), or ultramicrotomy of soft materials without resin embedding process.

U28-S011. Environmental SEM (ESEM)

Environmental SEM (ESEM)

The Electron Microscopy Service offers access to transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cryo-TEM and electron tomography, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and environmental SEM. A special emphasis has been made on high-end sample preparation techniques through cryo-immobilization. All the equipment has been configured to provide its best for biological and nanomedicine applications.

Customer benefits

We have SOPs and ISO9001 certification. We also have specialist technicians for the use of the equipment.

This service is essential to:

Cells, tissues, and other biological systems: cells, tissues, leaves, flowers, insects, and microorganisms are among the structures that can be topographically characterized using SEM. For these systems, as for others with high water content, ESEM has become an important tool due to its ability for surface visualization even in a 100% humidity environment, reducing sample preparation and permitting dynamic analysis through hydration-dehydration cycles Dynamics experiments are useful in Materials Science, food industry, water-oil emulsions characterization, and pharmaceutical quality control.

Target customer

Any company or research group interested in:

• Environmental scanning electron microscopy of hydrated samples and dynamic experiments.
• Wet-scanning transmission electron microscopy of samples in thin-film water solution.
• Data and image processing.
• Technical advice for users regarding the selection of protocols and procedures for experiments involving electron microscopy.

References

1. Rico, V., Mora, J., García, P., Agüero, A., Borrás, A., González-Elipe, A. R., & López-Santos, C. (2020). Robust anti-icing superhydrophobic aluminum alloy surfaces by grafting fluorocarbon molecular chains. Applied Materials Today, 21. doi: 10.1016/j.apmt.2020.100815
2. Molina N, González A, Monopoli D, Mentado B, Becerra J, Santos-Ruiz L, Vida Y, Perez-Inestrosa E. Dendritic Scaffold onto Titanium Implants. A Versatile Strategy Increasing Biocompatibility. Polymers (Basel). 2020 Apr 1;12(4):770. doi: 10.3390/polym12040770. PMID: 32244665; PMCID: PMC7240519.

U28-S010. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

The Electron Microscopy Service offers access to transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cryo-TEM and electron tomography, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and environmental SEM. A special emphasis has been made on high-end sample preparation techniques through cryo-immobilization. All the equipment has been configured to provide its best for biological and nanomedicine applications.

Customer benefits

We have SOPs and ISO9001 certification. We also have specialist technicians for the use of the equipment.

This service is essential to:

• Cells, tissues, and other biological systems: cells, tissues, leaves, flowers, insects, and microorganisms are among the structures that can be topographically characterized using SEM.
• Biomaterials characterization: Functionalized polymeric and metallic nanoparticles for drug delivery, dental implants, bone plates and cements, and artificial tissues are among the biomaterials that can benefit from the information provided by SEM.

Target customer

Any company or research group interested in:

• Scanning electron microscopy for structural studies of samples.
• Data and image processing.
• Technical advice for users regarding the selection of protocols and procedures for experiments involving electron microscopy.

References

1. Gofas, S., C. Salas, J.L. Rueda, J. Canoura, C. Farias and J. Gil 2014 Mollusca from a species-rich deep-water Leptometra community in the Alboran Sea. Sci. Mar. 78(4):537-553. doi: 10.3989/scimar.04097.27A
2. Paris JL, Monío C, Pérez-Moreno AM, Jurado-Escobar R, Bogas G, Fernández TD, Montañez MI, Mayorga C, Torres MJ. Influence of Pore Size in Protein G’-Grafted Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as a Serum Pretreatment System for In Vitro Allergy Diagnosis. Adv Healthc Mater. 2023 Jun;12(15):e2203321. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202203321. Epub 2023 Mar 8. PMID: 36847336.

U28-S08. Cryo-TEM

Cryo-TEM

The Electron Microscopy Service offers access to transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cryo-TEM and electron tomography, high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and environmental SEM. A special emphasis has been made on high-end sample preparation techniques through cryo-immobilization. All the equipment has been configured to provide its best for biological and nanomedicine applications.

Customer benefits

We have SOPs and ISO9001 certification. We also have specialist technicians for the use of the equipment.

This service is essential to:

• Cellular characterization: cell structures and ultrastructures visualization and its relationship to function are the most important contributions of cryo-EM to cell biology.
• Tissue characterization: cryo-electron microscopy has a role in the characterization of interactions between cells and with other components inside tissues.
• Biomaterials characterization: cryo-electron microscopy plays a double role in biomaterial characterization On one hand, it provides structural and compositional information on the materials engineered to be used inside biological systems, favouring its development On the other hand, it allows us to visualize their interactions Functionalized polymeric and metallic nanoparticles for drug delivery, dental implants, bone plates and cements, and artificial tissues are among the biomaterials that can benefit from the information provided by cryo-EM.
• Macromolecular complexes characterization: structural biology can benefit from cryo-electron microscopy to determine native 3D structures of macromolecular complexes.

Target customer

Any company or research group interested in:

• Electron Microscopy of frozen-hydrated samples.
• Plunge-freezing of samples in water solution (vitrification) for cryo-transmission electron microscopy.
• Cryo-fixation of samples at high pressure (High-Pressure Freezing).
• Glow-discharge of film-coated transmission electron microscopy grids.
• Data and image processing.
• Technical advice for users regarding the selection of protocols and procedures for experiments involving electron microscopy.

References

1. Galisteo-González F, Molina-Bolívar JA, Navarro SA, Boulaiz H, Aguilera-Garrido A, Ramírez A, Marchal JA. Albumin-covered lipid nanocapsules exhibit enhanced uptake performance by breast-tumor cells. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2018 May 1;165:103-110. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.02.024. Epub 2018 Feb 13. PMID: 29471218.
2. Molina-Bolívar J.A., Galisteo-González F. Olive-oil nanocapsules stabilized by HSA: Influence of processing variables on particle properties. J. Nanoparticle Res. 2015;17 doi: 10.1007/s11051-015-3192-1