Gas phase sample preparation for cryo-electron microscopy
US11525760B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 1, 2021 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2237/31745
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides methods for controllably forming a layer of amorphous ice and other amorphous solids on a substrate, and also provides cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) sample preparation methods and systems that utilize in vacuo formation of amorphous ice and other solids. Formation of the amorphous solid layer can be independent of the deposition of sample molecules to be analyzed using electron microscopy, and allows for the generation of a uniformly thick layer. Optionally, mass spectrometry instruments are used to generate and purify molecules deposited on the generated amorphous solid layer. The techniques and systems described herein can deliver near ideal cryo-EM sample preparation to greatly increase resolution, sensitivity, scope, and throughput of cryo-EM protein imaging, and therefore greatly impact the field of structural biology.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.