We took an image of differentiating mESCs with SEM and observed these structures all over the cells in some regions of the coverslip. The structures are about 700 nm long. Any idea of what could they be? In my opinion they are too straight to be cilia or microvilli. Our other guess is that they are some precipitated salts, maybe from the metallization process...
Most likely these are Filopodia. Thin actin cell membrane protrusion that function for migration.
I think you are correct that salts have precipitated. When I had a similar problem, I added a water rinse before alcohol dehydration prior to critical point drying
Drying by oven with low temperature.the OH is easily evaporated.
For me it looks like crystals. Does your SEM equipped with EDS of BSE detector? You can easily check if it differs from biological tissue.
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