ZEISS Microscopy - Volume Electron Microscopy Solutions (volume EM, vEM)
EM images acquired by Yannick Schwab and Anna Steyer, EMBL, Heidelberg.
Volume EM Technology Overview

Shedding New Light on Ultrastructure

Explore Volume EM Techniques for 3D Ultrastructural Imaging

Intricate ultrastructural information can be delivered by SEM technologies and methods, known collectively as volume EM (vEM). Scientific advancements along with partnerships and collaborations between the research and commercial communities have seen these methods become both easier to use and more accessible, even to those with little to no experience with electron microscopy.

vEM has the promise to drive new discoveries in neurobiology, cancer research, developmental biology, plant science, and more.

When visualizing quintessential electron microscopy images in life science research, two different types of images come to mind. One portrays the topographical details of biological surfaces using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), from pollen grains to insect heads to bacteria on infected tissue surfaces. Another type offers two-dimensional insights from thin sections of tissues and cells, revealing the ultrastructure of cells, organelles, and macromolecular complexes. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is traditionally used for this type of ultra-resolution 2D imaging, and, to some extent, for 3D imaging of relatively small volumes.

It is still not widely known that the various SEM techniques can also provide compelling, intracellular, ultrastructural information. Additionally, SEM opens possibilities for 3D imaging of larger volumes, which can enable scientists to overcome typical experimental limitations such as limited field-of-view and small sample volume size – to better understand ultrastructural details within a larger 3D context.

As these advanced methods of vEM become easier to use, more and more scientists have the opportunity to reveal parts and processes of biology previously beyond the reach of any imaging modalities.

A Silent Revolution in 3D EM

Science/AAAS Poster

Volume EM Science/AAAS Poster Preview

Life takes place in three dimensions. Although many scientists think of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as producing captivating topographical images, it also offers opportunities to expose internal cellular architecture in 3D. Intricate ultrastructural information can be delivered by volume EM technologies and methods.

This poster, created in collaboration between Science/AAAS and ZEISS, explores the key features of the most important vEM methods.

From 3D Light to 3D Electron Microscopy

Science/AAAS eBook

From 3D Light to 3D Electron Microscopy Ebook

In this new 28-page Science/AAAS eBook, learn more about volume electron microscopy (vEM) and volume correlative light and electron microscopy (vCLEM) for life sciences.

Get an introduction to the community, read articles and watch videos about vEM and vCLEM workflows, and get inspired from a discussion among electron microscopy experts from both academia and industry.

New Discoveries from the Ultrastructure of Life Virtual Seminar Series | January – June 2024

In a series of six webinars, explore the technological underpinnings of Volume EM imaging and its growing number of application areas in neurobiology, cancer research, developmental biology, plant science, and more.

Learn about vEM-specific sample preparation and technologies (array tomography, serial block-face SEM, and FIB-SEM), advanced image processing, data analysis, and result visualization capabilities of workflow-oriented software solutions.

Volume EM Techniques in Comparison

The values in this table provide general guidance for comparing the methods along different dimensions. Depending on the user’s implementation and application, the comparison values may vary.

Array Tomography (AT)
Multibeam AT
SBF-SEM
FIB-SEM
Cryo FIB-SEM

Volume Size

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Resolution (z)

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Acquisition Speed1

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Ease of Use2

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Instrument Availability

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Image Processing3

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Nondestructive4

ZEISS Solutions

1 Assumption: comparison based on the same volume size.

2 Complete workflow, including sample handling.

3 Includes big data handling.

4 Sections can be stored and reused after imaging.

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    Top image: 3D stack of a full HeLa cell. The cell was resin-embedded according to the Malachite Green Protocol before being imaged in a ZEISS FIB-SEM with a voxel size of 5x5x8 nm. EM images were acquired by Yannick Schwab and Anna Steyer, EMBL, Heidelberg. Software-based image processing, reconstruction, and visualization were done with arivis Vision4D and APEER. Artwork: Mica Duran for Science/AAAS