Ion Beam Etching of Red Blood Cells and Latex Spheres

Abstract

ION etching techniques have recently been utilised in attempts to reveal subsurface cell structures in the scanning electron microscope^1–7 There has, however, been some difficulty in distinguishing intracellular structures from artefacts produced by the ion etching process. This inability to distinguish cellular structures from features produced by the ion beam suggests that a better understanding of the ion etching process as it is applied to organic material is required before this technique can be applied to the recognition and investigation of biological cell types and structure. In our study we examined the etch effects produced in normal red blood cells and homogeneous latex spheres by a variety of ion beam etching conditions.