Understanding the structural properties of biomolecules is crucial for elucidating their interactions with other molecules – a knowledge vital for pharmaceutical companies to design novel drugs. Cryogenic sample Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) is a technique that provides high-resolution structures of biomolecules in their close-to-native state by imaging the molecules suspended in a tens of nanometer thin layer of glass-like solution without requiring chemical labeling or crystallization.
Femto-liter volume sample preparation for cryo-electron microscopy
This proposal aims to deliver a revolutionary change in cryo-EM sample preparation by precisely dispensing femtoliter-scale droplets, controlling their spread, and freezing them at the optimal moment with defined thickness. Leveraging recent advances in microfluidics and EM grid technology, it promises major gains in efficiency. The controlled approach will maximize sample utilization, enhance control over sample thickness, and significantly reduce the cost and variability of cryo-EM experiments. Our method will empower academic and industrial researchers to accelerate structural biology discoveries and structure-based drug development.