Electron Microscopy

Main features :

1. C-FEG operated at 300 kV ;
2. Direct Electron Detector Falcon 4i;
3. Energy filter Selectris X
4. Phase plate ;

The Titan Krios G4 is the latest generation of electron microscope for observation of biological specimen at high resolution. It is equipped with a C-FEG electron source of high coherence, and benefits from the latest technologies for contrast improvment, such as phases plates and the energy filter SelectrisX, as well as the latest generation of direct electron detectors (Falcon4i). Its high stability allows to perform long, high resoltion data recording session, in a fully automatized manner, thanks to the SerialEM software.

The Titan Krios G4 can reach atomic resolution on biological specimen.

Main features :

1. S-FEG operated at 300 kV ;
2. Sphercial aberration corrector ;
3. Direct Electron Detector Falcon 3 and K3 ;
4. BioQuantum Energy Filter;
5. Phase plate ;
6. Dual axis holder.

The Titan Krios is the most powerful electron microscope to observe biological smaples. It is equiped with an autoloader to handle up to 12 grids in a fully automatized manner. It benefits from the latest technologies for contrast improvment, such as phases plates and energy filter. Its high stability allows to perform long, high resoltion data recording session, in a fully automatized manner, thanks to the SerialEM software.

Main features :

1. X-FEG operated at 200 kV ;
2. Direct Electron Detector K2 Summit ;
3. CETA-D for electron diffraction.

The Glacios is a compact yet extremely powerful microscope. It features an automated grid handling system, identical to the Titan Krios, making it the perfect system for sample screening in cryo conditions. Its high-level optical propoerties and stability makes it a cutting edge microscope for observation of biological specimen.

The Glacios is equiped with a CETA-D camera optimized for recording electron diffraction data from protein micro and nano crystals.

Main features :

1. FEG operated at 200 kV
2. Gatan CCD 2K camera

The TF20 is a powerful electron microscope, for quick observation of samples in negative stain or cryo-conditions.

The Chameleon is the latest generation equipment for sample vitrification for electron microscopy. The Chameleon uses a new, blot-free approach, for fast vitrfication of sample after deposition on grid. By limiting the interaction of the sample with the air-water interface at the surface of the grid, the problems of preferential orientation and denaturation commonly observed with other tradition plunge-freezing deivce (e.g. the Vitrobot) are limited.

The Chameleon is a fully automatized freezing device, limiting manual handling of the grids for improved reproducibility and fiability of the method. The vitrification process can be monitored directly thanks to a high speed camera, providing direct feedback and control on the on-going experiment.

The Vitrobot is a freezing device for vitrification of cryo-electron microscopy grids, allowing fast and reproducible grid freezing for cryo-electron microscopy experiements.

The Leica EM GP2 is a freezing device for vitrification of cryo-electron microscopy grids, allowing fast and reproducible grid freezing for cryo-electron microscopy experiements.

A high-quality sample is a prerequisite for obtaining high-resolution data in cryo-electron microscopy. The platform offers a wide range of support grids (Quantifoil, C-flat, UltraFoil, functionalized gold grids, graphene oxide support) to optimize particle dispersion and ice thickness of the sample. The platform also ensures the production of affinity grids, enabling the freezing of low-concentration or challenging samples (fragile, small-sized, etc.).

To determine the optimal conditions for sample preparation, it may be necessary to test numerous freezing conditions. Each grid must be inspected through direct observation under cryogenic conditions to be validated.
Grid screening is performed on a Glacios microscope, equipped with an automated sample loading system, enabling high-throughput screening while minimizing the risk of sample loss or contamination. This system is identical to the one on the Titan Krios, ensuring a safe and immediate transfer of promising samples for high-resolution data collection.

Our microscopes are equipped with highly sensitive direct electron detectors, enabling fast collection of high-resolution data at low dose. Acquisition conditions have been optimized to generate a large dataset quickly. As a result, over 20,000 images can be produced in a two-day session. These data are analyzed in real time to optimize experimental conditions during collection.

The platform supports users throughout their projects and provides training as needed on sample preparation, equipment operation, and data processing.