Recent Advances in Cryo-TEM Imaging of Soft Lipid Nanoparticles

Shen Helvig; Intan D. M. Azmi; Seyed M. Moghimi; Anan Yaghmur; Shen Helvig; Intan D. M. Azmi; Seyed M. Moghimi; Anan Yaghmur

doi:10.3934/biophy.2015.2.116

AIMS Biophysics

2015, Volume 2, Issue 2: 116-130. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2015.2.116

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Recent Advances in Cryo-TEM Imaging of Soft Lipid Nanoparticles

1.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2,2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark;
2.
Nanomedicine Laboratory, Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

Received: 17 February 2015 Accepted: 05 May 2015 Published: 12 May 2015

Cryo-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM), and its technological variations thereof, have become a powerful tool for detailed morphological characterization and 3D tomography of soft lipid and polymeric nanoparticles as well as biological materials such as viruses and DNA without chemical fixation. Here, we review and discuss recent advances in Cryo-TEM analysis of lipid-based drug nanocarriers with particular emphasis on morphological and internal nanostructure characterization of lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles such as cubosomes and hexosomes.
- cryo-TEM,
- cubosomes,
- 3D tomography,
- hexosomes,
- nanocarriers
Citation: Shen Helvig, Intan D. M. Azmi, Seyed M. Moghimi, Anan Yaghmur. Recent Advances in Cryo-TEM Imaging of Soft Lipid Nanoparticles[J]. AIMS Biophysics, 2015, 2(2): 116-130. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2015.2.116

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Abstract

Cryo-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM), and its technological variations thereof, have become a powerful tool for detailed morphological characterization and 3D tomography of soft lipid and polymeric nanoparticles as well as biological materials such as viruses and DNA without chemical fixation. Here, we review and discuss recent advances in Cryo-TEM analysis of lipid-based drug nanocarriers with particular emphasis on morphological and internal nanostructure characterization of lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles such as cubosomes and hexosomes.

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