Structures Formed by Cryoprotective Agents Used in Freezc-Etching

Abstract

The freeze etching technique is potentially useful for examining dilute solutions or suspensions of macromolecular materials. Quick freezing of aqueous solutions in Freon or propane at or near liquid nitrogen temperature produces relatively large ice crystals and these crystals may damage the structures to be examined. Cryoprotective agents may reduce damage to the specimem, hut their use often results in the formation of a different set of specimem artifacts.In a study of the structure of polyethylene oxide gels glycerol and sucrose were used as cryoprotective agents. The experiments reported here show some of the structures which can appear when these cryoprotective agents are used.Figure 1 shows a fractured surface of a frozen 25% aqueous solution of sucrose. The branches of dendritic ice crystals surrounded hy ice-sucrose eutectic can be seen. When this fractured surface is etched the ice in the dendrites sublimes giving the type of structure shown in Figure 2. The ice-sucrose eutectic etches much more slowly. It is the smooth continuous structural constituent surrounding the branches of the dendrites.