A microfluidic device for TEM sample preparation. Issue 22 (9th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hauser, Janosch; Kylberg, Gustaf; Colomb-Delsuc, Mathieu; Stemme, Göran; Sintorn, Ida-Maria; Roxhed, Niclas
• Is Part Of: Lab on a chip. Volume 20:Issue 22(2020)
• Page Start: 4186
• Page End: 4193
• Publication Date: 2020-10-09
• Subjects: Miniature electronic equipment -- Periodicals; Combinatorial chemistry -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 543.0813
• DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00724b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-0197

Abstract

Abstract : We present a capillary-driven microfluidic single-use device that prepares a TEM grid with minimal user interaction. The user only initiates the sample preparation process, waits for about one minute and then collects the TEM grid, ready for imaging. Abstract : Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allows for visualizing and analyzing viral particles and has become a vital tool for the development of vaccines and biopharmaceuticals. However, appropriate TEM sample preparation is typically done manually which introduces operator-based dependencies and can lead to unreliable results. Here, we present a capillary-driven microfluidic single-use device that prepares a TEM grid with minimal and non-critical user interaction. The user only initiates the sample preparation process, waits for about one minute and then collects the TEM grid, ready for imaging. Using Adeno-associated virus (AAV) particles as the sample and NanoVan® as the stain, we demonstrate microfluidic consistency and show that the sample preparation quality is sufficient for automated image analysis. We further demonstrate the versatility of the microfluidic device by preparing two protein complexes for TEM investigations using two different stain types. The presented TEM sample preparation concept could alleviate the problems associated with human inconsistency in manual preparation protocols and allow for non-specialists to prepare TEM samples.