title: Quantitative measurement of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the plasma-polymerized naphthalene film (Super Support Film) and other support films and grids in electron microscopy.
abstract: Hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the surfaces of plasma-polymerized naphthalene film (Super Support Film, Nisshin EM Co. Ltd., Tokyo), carbon and formvar support films, and copper and nickel grids were quantitatively estimated by contact angles measured from diameters and heights of water droplets placed on various specimens. With treatment of glow discharge, the surfaces of plasma-polymerized naphthalene and carbon support films became fully hydrophilic in 20 s. They remained hydrophilic for 6 h. The surfaces of copper and nickel grids became fully hydrophilic with 60 s of glow discharge treatment. They remained hydrophilic for only 1 h. This information is useful for negative staining, ultrathin sectioning and rapid freezing of biological specimens using the sandwich method.
authors: Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Japan yama@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
authors: Masashi
authors: M
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: National Institute of Technology, Suzuka College, Shirako-cho, Suzuka-shi, Mie 510-0294, Japan.
authors: Toshihiro
authors: T
authors: Aoyama
authors: Faculty of Educations, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoicho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
authors: Norihiro
authors: N
authors: Yamada
authors: Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Japan.
authors: Hiroji
authors: H
authors: Chibana
keywords: Super Support Film; contact angle; electron microscopy; hydrophilicity; plasma-polymerized naphthalene