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Liquid-TEM by K-kit

Some samples, such as biological tissues or fluids, must receive specific treatment prior to becoming test specimens. Some important characteristics of the sample may be compromised during such treatments. In particular, particle dispersion is only meaningful when the particles are in the relevant media. The electron microscope is a vital tool for characterizing composition and morphology at the nanoscale. Most electron microscopy is conducted in a vacuum environment.

 

With the core concept of "simple and convenient", K-kit solves the problem of analyzing nanoparticles in liquid. Any liquid product containing nanoparticles can be analyzed using K-Kit, which will enhance product development and manufacturing QC, thus profoundly strengthening the product’s competitive advantage.

 

K-kit is an innovative specimen holder developed by MA-tek for liquid analysis in TEM

 

 

 

Technical Concept

K-kits are sample holders designed to facilitate convenient TEM observation of liquid samples, allowing nanoobjects, aggregates, and agglomerates (NOAAs) in liquid samples to be characterized; with vacuum compatible sealing of liquids in electron-transmitting thickness, K-kits are micro reaction chambers for countless experiments in materials, chemical and biological research.

 


Compatible with all kinds of TEM holder

 

Dried on Cu grid

Dried Mode of K-kit

 

 

Liquid Sample TEM

Characterize Nano-objects, Aggregates, and Agglomerates (NOAAs) in Product’s Final Form or Relevant Media

 

Our Technology (K-kit)

Specimen kit for observing the original morphology and physical state of nanomaterials in liquid sample by TEM

 

 

(a) Wet mode:The loaded liquid sample is sealed and imaged by TEM in the native liquid environment.

(b) Thin Layer (Dry) mode:A proprietary sample preparation protocol preserves the original morphology and physical state with improved imaging resolution.

 

Click the link to get more information about K-kit

 

 

 

Application

 

 

Abrasives in CMP Slurry

Primary and secondary particles in undiluted slurry

  • Composition
  • Size/size distribution
  • Shape
  • Aggregation state
  • Surface

 

 

 

 

Liquid-TEM Observation in Nanopharmaceuticals

Application particle concentration for K-kit: 1011~1014 particles/ml

 

AuroVist® solution was directly loaded and sealed in a K-kit in liquid form.

Oil emulsion in water was loaded and sealed in a K-kit in liquid form.

 

As shown in the table, most of the nano-drugs currently in the market all meet the applicable (countable) range of particle concentration for K-kit. So, apparently, K-kit can be very suitable for the CRO or CMC application in Nanopharmaceuticals.

 

 

In some cases, the particles cannot be well identified in TEM directly by using K-kit, which such as liposomes or AAV due to low contrast or too small sizes. Currently, we are developing the negative staining protocol of K-kits, with the first example by smaller liposomes, for improving the TEM observation in low-contrast nano-drugs. We will keep the progress updated at any time on this website.

 

 

EM-based Imaging Analysis with K-kit for CRO Application

Possible CRO Application

  • Drug discovery and development
  • Drug Manufacture (CMC)
  • Pharmacokinetic studies
  • Early-phase clinical studies

 

Popular Analysis Items (Suggested)

  • Nanoparticles in bio-liquid (like blood, serum or drug)
  • Drug carriers (exosomes or liposomes) imaging analyses
  • AAV imaging analysis for gene therapy
  • Others

 

The Latest News about K-kit in CRO Market

The poster on right side was published in June at RCCM Banyuls 2019 meeting in France; K-kit has been considered as an EM-based imaging solution on new drug development by the famous pharmaceutical company SANOFI. 

 

 

Quantum dots in solution

Quantum dots will enable a market for devices and components worth over $11bn by 2026.

 

QD:Quantum dots
BLU:Backlight Unit
LCM:Liquid Crystal Module
QDEF:Quantum-dot Enhancement Film

 

 

Size and Size Distribution of QDs in Chloroform (Thin Layer Mode of K-kit)

 

 
Sample solution was directly loaded into K-kit
Nano-objects = Primary particle
Aggregates/agglomerates = Secondary particle

 

 

 

In-situ Dynamic Observation

The dynamic changes of reaction processes in liquid can be observed and studied by K-kit.

 

Dynamic observation of polystyrene beads in PBS buffer (sodium ion) 

The reduction process of the sodium ions, which induced from the TEM electron energy, in PBS buffer around a polystyrene bead could be observed with prolonged observation time.

 

Gold metal growth in water with and without polystyrene beads

The metal growth of Au ions in water could be observed dynamically at the same time in the areas far away and nearby a polystyrene bead. (As shown in the image, there’s a polystyrene bead at the center, with a lot of relatively small Au particles surrounded)

 

 

 

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