Leica High Pressure Freezer - HPM100

High pressure freezer for cryo-fixation of biological samples.

Photo credit: Leica

High pressure freezing (HPF) application is the most significant sample preparation method for morphological, immunocytochemical, and CLEM high resolution studies for electron microscopy.

HPF makes it possible to observe aqueous biological samples near to native state. The 2100 bar of high pressure applied to the sample during HPF using the HPM100, suppresses ice crystal formation and growth while cryo immobilization immediately after pressurization prevents structural damage to the sample. High pressure frozen samples can be vitrified up to a thickness of 200 μm.

HPM100 Features

  • Automatic freezing of samples with one button operation
  • Extremely high cooling rates
  • Short handling time before freezing
  • Perfect freezing of samples up to 6 mm diameter
  • No cryo protectant required
  • Automatic sample transfer to LN
  • Rapid transfer loading device for CLEM work
  • Integrated Dewar with drain outlet
  • no special manipulation required

Applications

Frozen samples can either be placed; into the cryo chamber of the UC7/FC7 ultra microtome for frozen hydrated sectioning; into the AFS2 Automatic Freeze Substitution System or mounted in a special holder in the VCT100 cryo station for further TEM prep in the MED020.

High pressure freezing in combination with freeze substitution is an excellent alternative to chemical fixation for immuno-electron microscopy as the antigenicity and ultra-structure are both well preserved.

HPM100