Single-walled carbon nanotubes and nanocrystalline graphene reduce beam-induced movements in high-resolution electron cryo-microscopy of ice-embedded biological samples

TL;DR

This study shows that incorporating single-walled carbon nanotubes and nanocrystalline graphene into cryoEM samples reduces beam-induced movement and contrast loss, enhancing high-resolution imaging of ice-embedded biological specimens.

Contribution

It introduces the use of SWNTs and nanocrystalline graphene supports to mitigate beam-induced specimen movement in cryoEM, a novel application of carbon nanotechnology.

Findings

SWNTs and graphene significantly reduce contrast loss.

Electrical and mechanical properties of nanomaterials improve image stability.

Enhanced high-resolution cryoEM imaging achieved.

Abstract

For single particle electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM), contrast loss due to beam-induced charging and specimen movement is a serious problem, as the thin films of vitreous ice spanning the holes of a holey carbon film are particularly susceptible to beam-induced movement. We demonstrate that the problem is at least partially solved by carbon nanotechnology. Doping ice-embedded samples with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) in aqueous suspension or adding nanocrystalline graphene supports, obtained by thermal conversion of cross-linked self-assembled biphenyl precursors, significantly reduces contrast loss in high-resolution cryoEM due to the excellent electrical and mechanical properties of SWNTs and graphene.