Evaluation of collagen gel microstructure by scanning electron microscopy

We performed qualitative comparison of freeze drying and chemical drying as methods of preparing 3D wet specimens for scanning electron microscopy. Human fibroblasts immobilized in collagen gel were used as a model system. Specimens fixed with glutaraldehyde were frozen in liquid nitrogen and freeze-dried at low temperature in high vacuum. In parallel experiments, glutaraldehyde-fixed samples were dehydrated in ascending ethanol solutions, absolute ethanol, and 100% hexamethyldisilazane and then dried at room temperature. Scanning electron microscopy microphotographs of collagen fibers and cells were characterized by high resolution and the absence of collapsed or deformed structures even at high magnification (×50,000) for both chemical drying and high-vacuum freeze drying. However, high-vacuum freeze drying is superior to chemical drying for the investigation of the internal space of 3D scaffolds, because sample fracture can be prepared directly in liquid nitrogen. These techniques are a part of the sample preparation process for scanning electron microscopy and can also be used for studies of cell adhesion, morphology, and arrangement in wet specimens (3D gels and flexible tissue engineering scaffolds).