title: Nanoparticle embedded chitosan film for agglomeration free TEM images.
abstract: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a very useful and commonly used microscopy technique, used especially for the characterization of nanoparticles. However, the identification of the magnetic nanoparticle could be thought problematic in TEM analysis, due to the fact that the magnetic nanoparticles are usually form aggregates on the TEM grid to form bigger particles generating higher stability. This prevents to see exact shape and size of each nanoparticle. In order to overcome this problem, a simple process for the formation of well-dispersed nanoparticles was conducted, by covering chitosan film on the unmodified copper grid, it was said to result in aggregation-free TEM images. It is also important to fix the magnetic nanoparticles on the TEM grids, due to possible contamination of TEM filament which is operated under high vacuum conditions. The chitosan film matrix also helps to protect the TEM filament from contact with magnetic nanoparticles during the imaging process. The proposed procedure offers a quick method to fix the nanoparticles in a conventional copper TEM grid and chitosan matrix prevents agglomeration of nanoparticles, and thus getting TEM images showing well-dispersed individual nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler, 06330, Turkey, Ankara.
authors.forename: Üzeyir
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Processing Technologies, Kırıkkale Vocational High School, Kırıkkale University, Yahşihan, Kırıkkale, 71450, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Çiftçi
authors.affiliation: Science Teaching Programme, Faculty of Education, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, 06500, Turkey.
authors.forename: Demet
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, 06500, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zekiye
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Suludere
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Etiler, 06330, Turkey, Ankara.
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tamer
keywords: TEM grid; chitosan; magnetic nanoparticle; nanoparticle agglomeration