Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A review
Scanning helium-ion microscopy (HIM) is an imaging technique with sub-nanometre resolution and is a powerful tool to resolve some of the tiniest structures in biology. In many aspects, the HIM resembles a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), but the use of helium ions rather than el...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Beilstein-Institut
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.12.1 |
| _version_ | 1819298800709140480 |
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| author | Matthias Schmidt James M. Byrne Ilari J. Maasilta |
| author_facet | Matthias Schmidt James M. Byrne Ilari J. Maasilta |
| author_sort | Matthias Schmidt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Scanning helium-ion microscopy (HIM) is an imaging technique with sub-nanometre resolution and is a powerful tool to resolve some of the tiniest structures in biology. In many aspects, the HIM resembles a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), but the use of helium ions rather than electrons provides several advantages, including higher surface sensitivity, larger depth of field, and a straightforward charge-compensating electron flood gun, which enables imaging of non-conductive samples, rendering HIM a promising high-resolution imaging technique for biological samples. Starting with studies focused on medical research, the last decade has seen some particularly spectacular high-resolution images in studies focused on plants, microbiology, virology, and geomicrobiology. However, HIM is not just an imaging technique. The ability to use the instrument for milling biological objects as small as viruses offers unique opportunities which are not possible with more conventional focused ion beams, such as gallium. Several pioneering technical developments, such as methods to couple secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) or ionoluminescence with the HIM, also offer the possibility for new and exciting research on biological materials. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of almost all currently published literature which has demonstrated the application of HIM for imaging of biological specimens. We also discuss some technical features of this unique type of instrument and highlight some of the new advances which will likely become more widely used in the years to come. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T05:35:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3316b0d0fbf24e30852c04e8f003a286 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2190-4286 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T05:35:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Beilstein-Institut |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3316b0d0fbf24e30852c04e8f003a2862022-12-21T17:13:01ZengBeilstein-InstitutBeilstein Journal of Nanotechnology2190-42862021-01-0112112310.3762/bjnano.12.12190-4286-12-1Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A reviewMatthias Schmidt0James M. Byrne1Ilari J. Maasilta2Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research GmbH - UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, GermanySchool of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, United KingdomNanoscience Center, Department of Physics, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, FinlandScanning helium-ion microscopy (HIM) is an imaging technique with sub-nanometre resolution and is a powerful tool to resolve some of the tiniest structures in biology. In many aspects, the HIM resembles a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), but the use of helium ions rather than electrons provides several advantages, including higher surface sensitivity, larger depth of field, and a straightforward charge-compensating electron flood gun, which enables imaging of non-conductive samples, rendering HIM a promising high-resolution imaging technique for biological samples. Starting with studies focused on medical research, the last decade has seen some particularly spectacular high-resolution images in studies focused on plants, microbiology, virology, and geomicrobiology. However, HIM is not just an imaging technique. The ability to use the instrument for milling biological objects as small as viruses offers unique opportunities which are not possible with more conventional focused ion beams, such as gallium. Several pioneering technical developments, such as methods to couple secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) or ionoluminescence with the HIM, also offer the possibility for new and exciting research on biological materials. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of almost all currently published literature which has demonstrated the application of HIM for imaging of biological specimens. We also discuss some technical features of this unique type of instrument and highlight some of the new advances which will likely become more widely used in the years to come.https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.12.1bio-imagingflood gunhelium-ion microscopyhigh resolutionhimhim-simsionofluorescense |
| spellingShingle | Matthias Schmidt James M. Byrne Ilari J. Maasilta Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A review Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology bio-imaging flood gun helium-ion microscopy high resolution him him-sims ionofluorescense |
| title | Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A review |
| title_full | Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A review |
| title_fullStr | Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A review |
| title_short | Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A review |
| title_sort | bio imaging with the helium ion microscope a review |
| topic | bio-imaging flood gun helium-ion microscopy high resolution him him-sims ionofluorescense |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.12.1 |
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