Field-emission, low-voltage scanning electron microscopy (LVSEM) is a field that has grown tremendously in recent years because is offers the optimal method for viewing complex surfaces at high resolution and in three dimensions. However, even though the instrumentation required to get good results at low beam voltage has become increasingly available, there has been a lag in its application to biological specimens. What seemed to be missing was volume that combined both the theory and practice of using this equipment in an optimal manner with a thorough treatment of biological specimen preparation.
Biological Low-Voltage Scanning Electron Microscopy is the first book to address both of these aspects of biological LVSEM. After providing a thorough description of the unique advantages and the operating constraints related to operating a scanning electron microscope at low beam voltage, the remainder of book focuses on the the best way to image all types of plant and animal cells and covers specimens that range from macromolecules to the surfaces revealed by de-embedding resin-embedded samples. Advanced specimen preparation techniques such as cryo-LVSEM, and immuno-gold-LVSEM are fully covered, as is x-ray microanalysis at low beam voltage and live-time stereo imaging. The preparative protocols provided represent the distilled essence of the experience of a group of world-renowned authors who have, for many decades, been instrumental in developing and applying new approaches to LVSEM to support their own biological research.
1. Low Voltage Scanning Electron Microscopy In Biology--Historical Preface : The Early Development of the Scanning Electron Microscope to 1965...1 Dennis McMullan
2. LVSEM For Biology...27 James B. Pawley, PhD
3. The Aberration-Corrected SEM...101 David Joy Science and Engineering Research Facility, University of Tennessee
4. Noise and its effects on the Low Voltage SEM...121 David C Joy
5. High-Resolution Low Voltage Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRLVFESEM) Applications for Cell Biology and Specimen Preparation Protocols...146 Heide Schatten, PhD
6. Molecular labeling for Correlative Microscopy: LM, LVSEM, TEM, EF-TEM and HVEM...173 Ralph Albrecht and Daryl Meyer
7. Low kV and video-rate, beam-tilt stereo for viewing live-time experiments in the SEM...209 Alan Boyde
8. CryoSEM of Chemically Fixed Animal Cells...228 Stanley L. Erlandsen
9. High resolution and low voltage SEM of plant cells...249 Guy Cox, Peter Vesk, Teresa Dibbayawan, Tobias I. Baskin and Maret Vesk
10. High Resolution Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy of Biological Samples...268 Paul Walther
11. Developments in Instrumentation for Microanalysis in Low Voltage Scanning Electron Microscopy...305 Dale E. Newbury
"Topics ranging from the early development of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) to some of the latest low-voltage and cryo techniques are reviewed in detail. [...] this is a very useful volume for those wishing to learn, or refresh their memory, in the context of getting the best out of an SEM, and in particular the field emission SEM (FESEM)."
- Iolo Ap Gwynn, infocus Magazine, Issue 12, December, 2008
"Biological Low-Voltage Scanning Electron Microscopy is an excellent and timely collection, written by many of the recognized experts in the subject [...] . Strongly recommended."
- Ultramicroscopy, Vol. 109, June, 2009