Transmission electron microscopy as a powerful tool to investigate the interaction of nanoparticles with subcellular structures

Abstract

Nanomedical research necessarily involves the study of the interactions between nano-particulates and the biological environment. Transmission electron microscopy has proven to be a powerful tool in providing information about nanoparticle uptake, biodistribution and relation-ships with cell and tissue components, thanks to its high resolution. This article aims to overview the transmission electron microscopy techniques used to explore the impact of nanoconstructs on biological systems, highlighting the functional value of ultrastructural morphology, histochemistry and microanalysis as well as their fundamental contribution to the advancement of nanomedicine.