To be specific, I have e.coli cells immobilized on optical fiber using e.coli specific antibodies. can this specimen be gold sputtered and imaged using SEM? else should this sample imaged using e-SEM?
If the bacteria are dead and dried, sure that you can metallize and observe them by SEM. Because already dry, they'll have lost their initial morphology, so there is no need to use e-SEM. Avoid focusing the beam for not damaging further the sample.
Alain
You can use both ESEM and SEM to view them in high resolution. sputtering with gold and carbon is preferable.
Thank you all. I will gold sputter the e. coli samples and view them. My aim is to approximately count the number of e. coli on the surface of optical fiber substrate.
It is better if you use a variable pressure SEM (VP-SEM). At higher pressure, around 50 pascal, gas is ionized and then sample is discherged. In this situation you have to use back scattered electrons (BS) . With secundary electrons it is not possible. I use VP-SEM with BS detector to see bacteries
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