Guofeng Zhang, Ph.D.
Biologist
LABS AT NIBIB
Electron Microscopy Unit
The Electron Microscopy Unit of the BEPS provides state-of-the-art instrumentation, training, and services.
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
Image by Hong Xu, Ph.D. et al., NHLBI, obtained using BEPS’s TEM equipped with CCD camera
- Fully automated FEI Tecnai T12 transmission electron microscope
- High-sensitivity 2k x 2k CCD camera for digital imaging and transfer of data across network directly to users’ laboratories.
- Automated electron tomography, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy
- Immuno electron microscopy
Preparative Techniques for TEM
- Standard fixation, embedding and sectioning (Leica EM UC6 microtome)
- High-pressure fixation (BalTec HPM 010)
- Freeze-substitution (Leica EM AFS 1/2)
- Pre- and post-embedding immunolabeling, cryosectioning (Tokyuasu technique) (Leica Ultracut UCT/FCS cryomicrotome)
- Negative staining of macromolecular assemblies
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Image by Bechara Kachar, M.D., NIDCD, obtained using BEPS’s Scanning Electron Microscope
- Fully automated Hitachi S-4800 field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) provides tool for determining 3D surface morphology of cells and biomaterials
- Users can be trained to collect SEM images independently
- Sputter coater (Balzers) for specimen preparation
- Critical point dryer (EM Sciences)
Serial Block Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM)
- Fully automated Zeiss Sigma/Gatan 3View Serial block face SEM provides 3D imaging of tissues (up to 300 microns across) at the nanoscale
- Visualization software for 3D rendering of biological structures
- Specialized specimen preparation techniques for SBF-SEM of tissues and isolated cells
Location of Electron Microscopy Unit
Image by Abner Notkins, M.D., et al., NIDCR, obtained using BEPS’s Serial Block Face SEM
Building 13 on the NIH campus
Pricing
- Tecnai T12 TEM (BEPS staff operation) $150 per hour
- Tecnai T12 TEM (client operation) $80 per hour
- Zeiss SIGMA/Gatan 3View SBF-SEM $100 per hour
- Hitachi S-4800 (client operation) $100 per hour
- EM Sample Embedding $300 for 1-5 samples
- EM Sample Sectioning $80 per sample
- EM Immunostaining $400 per set
Selected Publications
- Nicotinamide forestalls pathology and cognitive decline in Alzheimer mice: evidence for improved neuronal bioenergetics and autophagy procession. Neurobiol Aging. 2013 Jun.
- Mesenchymal stem cell-based cell engineering with multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles for tumor delivery. Biomaterials. 2013 Feb.
- Modulation of G protein-coupled adenosine receptors by strategically functionalized agonists and antagonists immobilized on gold nanoparticles. Purinergic Signal. 2013 Jun.
- Group I PAKs function downstream of Rac to promote podosome invasion during myoblast fusion in vivo. J Cell Biol. 2012 Oct 1.
- Caveolin-1 regulates proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. J Cell Biochem. 2012 Dec.
- Large intestine-targeted, nanoparticle-releasing oral vaccine to control genitorectal viral infection. Nat Med. 2012 Aug.
- Nuclear mapping of nanodrug delivery systems in dynamic cellular environments. ACS Nano. 2012 Jun 26.
- Synthesis, characterization, and direct intracellular imaging of ultrasmall and uniform glutathione-coated gold nanoparticles. Small. 2012 Jul 23.
- Increased retinoic acid levels through ablation of Cyp26b1 determine the processes of embryonic skin barrier formation and peridermal development. J Cell Sci. 2012 Apr 1.
- Elevated expression of TMEM205, a hypothetical membrane protein, is associated with cisplatin resistance. J Cell Physiol. 2010 Nov.
- Influence of melanosome dynamics on melanoma drug sensitivity. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009 Sep 16.
- Loss of the transcriptional repressor PAG-3/Gfi-1 results in enhanced neurosecretion that is dependent on the dense-core vesicle membrane protein IDA-1/IA-2. PLoS Genet. 2009 Apr.