3DCryoHolder: a new open access 3D printable system to store and transport silicon nitride membranes under cryogenic conditions for spectromicroscopy at low temperature

Data acquisition under cryogenic conditions allows one to avoid unwanted damage caused by beam irradiation. This is particularly important for the study of biological samples at hard X-ray, micro- or nano-probe beamlines, which focus synchrotron radiation to small beam sizes with extremely high flux...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of synchrotron radiation 2025-01, Vol.32 (Pt 1), p.225-229
Main Authors: Dominguez-Alfaro, Antonio, Sanchez-Cano, Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3d printing
Biological properties
Cryogenic temperature
cryopreserved samples
Data acquisition
Freezing
Low temperature
Membranes
Radiation damage
Short Communications
Silicon nitride
storage and transport
Synchrotron radiation
x-ray cryo-spectromicroscopy
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Summary:Data acquisition under cryogenic conditions allows one to avoid unwanted damage caused by beam irradiation. This is particularly important for the study of biological samples at hard X-ray, micro- or nano-probe beamlines, which focus synchrotron radiation to small beam sizes with extremely high flux densities. Sample preparation methods for cryopreserved specimens have been adapted from electron microscopy, and include the use of silicon nitride membranes as they are easy to handle and possess low X-ray absorption. Yet, currently there are no commercially available methods for the storage and transport of silicon nitride membranes under cryogenic conditions. Here, we introduce and provide the design files of 3DCryoHolder, a system that can be 3D printed in-house for the correct storage and transport of multiple silicon nitride membranes under cryogenic conditions, and is compatible with all commercial plunge-freezing instruments.
ISSN:1600-5775
0909-0495
1600-5775
DOI:10.1107/S1600577524010919