Market-leading sample supports enable cryo-EM researchers to optimize data quality

Quantifoil Micro Tools GmbH pioneered the commercialization of perforated support films for electron microscopy with convenient predefined hole size, shape and arrangement. With more than 20 geometries on a full range of TEM grid materials and designs, the range of support foils provides high performance and flexibility to support diverse cryo-EM research needs.The growing product portfolio encompasses UltrAuFoil Holey gold supports on gold grids which, by reducing beam-induced motion, allow researchers to obtain higher quality structures of even the most challenging targets

QUANTIFOIL Holey Carbon supports are a flat film of carbon, 10-12 nm thick, on a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) grid, providing a low-background sample support for high-resolution cryo-EM data collection. Researchers can choose the optimum grid for any project from a comprehensive selection of hole shapes, sizes and spacings in combination with a range of base grid materials and mesh sizes. Grid options include standard square meshes as well as other  arrangements and finder grid formats

UltrAuFoil^®

Ultra-stable supports for better reconstructions from less data.

Developed in collaboration with leading scientists, UltrAuFoil Holey Gold sample supports simplify structure determination even for challenging and small molecules. During imaging at cryogenic temperatures, traditional carbon supports move, particularly at the beginning of irradiation. This movement blurs images and reduces data quality. UltrAuFoil Holey Gold supports are more conductive, with no differential contraction between the grid and the foil on plunge freezing. This technical improvement minimizes any crinkling of the foil during sample preparation, substantially increasing data quality and efficiency

Additional UltraThin Carbon Layer (UTC)

An ultrathin (2-3 nm) carbon layer further enhances particle distribution and data quality when applied to both QUANTIFOIL Holey Carbon Films and UltrAuFoil Gold Supports.

Particle density is improved due to the ready adsorption of many biomolecules onto the carbon surface prior to blotting, which may also reduce the adoption of a preferred orientation. Researchers also benefit from improved particle distribution as particles can adsorb onto the carbon across the entire hole.

Most QUANTIFOIL Holey Carbon Film supports can be supplied with an additional carbon layer if required