Low Vacuum & ESEM Imaging of Biological Specimens

Biological specimens can be imaged in low vacuum & ESEM without preparation in the conventional sense. However, while the fixing, staining, drying and coating traditionally associated with other microscopic techniques is not usually required in low vacuum & ESEM, the emphasis must necessarily shift to the treatment of specimens once inside the microscope chamber. Hence we need to consider how uncoated delicate biological specimens behave when subjected to electron irradiation in a partial vacuum, controlling and interpreting this as well as we are able, in order to obtain appropriate microstructural information.