TescanApplications Life Sciences Biomedical engineering

Biomedical engineering

Biomedical engineering is one of the fastest growing research areas. It combines the latest concepts from medicine, biotechnology and engineering for designing a variety of technologies such as support matrices for cell growth, artificial tissue and implantable biomedical devices.

The surface properties and interactions between the material and tissue are keys for predicting the biocompatibility of the material with the host body. This is particularly important in designing reliable implants, tissue mimics and bone replacements, among others. TESCAN SEM systems are ideal instruments for the characterization of biomaterials with high resolution. Wide Field Optics™ allows easy navigation on the sample at very low magnification in real time.

Once the region of interest is found, the SEM column can be easily switched to high depth of field or high resolution modes for detail inspection of the features at high magnification.
All instruments can be easily equipped with a wide variety of detectors and analytical methods such as EDX and EBSD analysers, Raman spectrometers for detailed compositional and structural analyses of biomaterials.

Non-coated and highly charging samples can be observed either by using low accelerating voltages or under variable pressure conditions in the UniVac mode. With our dedicated FIB-SEM systems, researchers can cut directly into the materials and investigate material-tissue interfaces or reconstruct them in 3D.

Polymer microfibers with silver nanoparticles

Investigation of cell spreading on bioceramic materials

In the field of current implantology, the conventional usage of titanium alloys is being replaced by ceramic materials. Bioceramics are made by sintering of the ceramic powders (e. g. zirconia or alumina powders) and they are characterized by excellent hardness and tribological properties. Zirconia ceramics are becoming prevalent among biomaterials used in dental implantology. The aim of this study was to investigate osteoblastic spreading in contact with various oxide ceramics. The spreading of the osteoblastic cells MG63 on the zirconia and alumina surfaces was observed using a MIRA3 FEG SEM in the low vacuum mode in order to evaluate the biocompatibility of these ceramic materials.

pdf – 3.4 MB

Spreading of the osteoblasts on the zirconia ceramics

Low temperature scanning electron microscopy for Life Sciences

Low temperature scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) has become an established technique for capturing and observing biological samples close to their natural state. It is a method of choice, where the traditional sample preparation (e.g. critical point drying) causes unwanted changes in the sample structure. A Cryo-SEM workflow typically involves sample fixation using either flash-freezing in a liquid nitrogen slush or high-pressure freezing. The frozen samples are then transferred under vacuum to a cryo sputter coater, where they are coated with a conductive layer of metals or carbon. Finally, the samples are inserted into a SEM chamber equipped with a cryo-stage and observed in high vacuum environment.

pdf – 4.8 MB