SEM observation of biogenic nano-particles

Kozai, Naofumi   ; Jiang, M.; Utsunomiya, Satoshi*; Kuwabata, Susumu*; Onuki, Toshihiko

We have observed biogenic nano-particles developed on cell surface of microorganism coated with ionic liquid by SEM. In the sample preparation, the microbial cells were coated with hydrophilic and hydrophobic ionic liquids. The biogenic nano-particles were clearly observed by SEM, when the sample were coated with hydrophilic ionic liquid. On the contrary, the cells were collapsed during SEM observation, when the sample were coated with hydrophobic ionic liquid. These results showed that the coating with hydrophilic ionic liquid is effective for analyzing nano-particles developed on microbial cell surface by SEM.