For microemulsion characterization, I get particle size (Z-average d.nm) with DLS around 18-20 nm consistently even after stability studies. Whereas, with TEM analysis with ImageJ, I am getting the particle size (length d.nm) around 105 nm. What could be the possible reason for this difference?
Ruchita Joshi
Microemulsions cannot be examined with TEM. The components of the microemulsion are evaporated in vacuum. Apparently, you see what is left after their destruction during evaporation.
Yuri Mirgorod
Thank you for replying. I have attached a reference image of the TEM analysis I performed for the microemulsions. Would the spherical structures be the artefacts as you have mentioned above? If so, which alternate method could I use for their imaging?
Ruchita Joshi Cryo-EM or freeze-fracture techniques are the usual routes of imaging. Usually the TEM (number-based) size will be considerably smaller than the intensity weighted z-average from DLS so your observation is strange.
Ruchita Joshi
You have obtained good results in the determination of the size of microemulsions by the DLS method,
Thank you all for the answers. I will consider doing cryoEM for my sample.
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