Support floatation block

thingiverse

A block engineered to facilitate carbon film floatation from mica or graphene layer floatation from a substrate, designed specifically for electron microscopy sample support and minimizing the destabilizing effects of the air-water interface. The block is crafted to accommodate four samples, sufficient for one grid box, enabling buffer exchange either in situ using two needles under the surface where the film floats or by transferring to the well behind. Supports for both negatively stained and cryogenic experiments can be applied effectively in this manner, preventing exposure of the sample to the air-water interface. Decorated films can be retrieved with a plasma cleaned carbon-coated electron microscopy grid, such as holey or lacey carbon. Production requires a high-resolution 3D printer; we have achieved excellent results with a Form 2. The plastic used for printing must be water-resistant to hold biological buffers and should possess a smooth surface that is poorly surface-active to minimize sample loss during preparation. Please reference personal communication with Christopher H. S. Aylett, Section for Structural Biology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London if this block proves useful in your research. Happy floating, Chris