Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40615419›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Foam film vitrification for cryo-EM.

Yue Zhang, Biplob Nandy, Kasim Sader, Christopher J Russo, Jan Löwe

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yue ZhangMedical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom. yuezhang@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4482-1866
Biplob NandyMedical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2734-1035
Kasim SaderAstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Christopher J RussoMedical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom. crusso@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4442-744X
Jan LöweMedical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, United Kingdom. jyl@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5218-6615

Funding

RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC) MC_UP_120117RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC) U105184326
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) has revolutionised structural biology, enhancing applicability, size limits and speed. Despite these successes, cryo-EM sample preparation remains a major bottleneck for routinely achieving high-resolution structures through single particle analysis. Challenges such as inconsistent ice thicknesses, air-water interface interactions and preferred particle orientation persist. Here, we introduce a blot-free vitrification method that uses free-standing surfactant-stabilised foam films to address some of these issues. The method achieves uniform ice thicknesses, enables thickness control of the foam film prior to vitrification, and for some specimens enhances orientation distribution efficiency. Furthermore, it reduces particle adsorption to carbon foil on the specimen support. The method simplifies cryo-EM specimen preparation, offering improved control over ice thickness and particle orientation, to help streamline and accelerate structure determination.

Indexed as

Cryoelectron MicroscopySpecimen HandlingVitrificationIceSurface-Active AgentsIceSurface-Active Agents

Identifiers

PMID40615419
PMCPMC12227703

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.