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Characterisation of Biomedical Materials, Cells & Interfaces using Environmental SEM (ESEM)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

D.J. Stokes ,
S.M. Rea ,
A. E. Porter ,
S. M. Best  and
W. Bonfield
D.J. Stokes
Affiliation:
Polymers & Colloids Group, University of Cambridge, Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
S.M. Rea
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
A. E. Porter
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
S. M. Best
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
W. Bonfield
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
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Abstract

The ability of Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) to image insulating and/or moist specimens without the need for the removal of volatile components or the application of a conductive coating has significantly increased the potential range of experiments and observations that can be performed at the high resolution of electron microscopy. Such a technological advance has particularly important implications for the study of soft matter, complex fluids and biological specimens [1]. Thus an important field of research to which ESEM can be applied is the study of materials for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering. The bioactivity of these materials is dependent upon such factors as phase composition, chemical composition, surface activity, crystallinity and microstructure. Using ESEM it is possible to obtain surface-sensitive, specimen-dependent secondary electron images (in the absence of specimen coating), yielding potentially new perspectives on microstructure to complement information derived from other techniques. We have used ESEM to study the apposition of bone on hydroxyapatite-based biomedical materials, from both in vitro and in vivo investigations.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 711: Symposia FF/GG/HH – Advanced Biomaterials--Characterization, Tissue Engineering and Complexity , 2001 , FF6.5.1
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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References

REFERENCES

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