Electroconductive Pretreatment of Several Types of Non-conductive Wet Biological Samples for SEM using a Room Temperature Ionic Liquid: Simple and Rapid Conductive Preparation

抄録

In this study, we investigated the use of a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) for the pretreatment of wet biological samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The characteristic properties of RTILs, such as high electroconductivity and no vapor pressure, makes them appropriate for the conductive preparation of samples for SEM. We found that only a drop of RTILs was required to immerse the sample surface and provide sufficient electroconductivity for high-quality SEM images. Furthermore, the RTILs pretreatment prevented the destruction and collapse of the wet, swollen biological samples, even under high vacuum conditions. Thus, this rapid and simple pretreatment allowed, SEM images of wet biological samples to be obtained as "living matter." These results suggest that the use of RTILs in the preparation of samples, particularly wet biological samples, can be a powerful tool for SEM.