Aurion R-Gent silver enhancement kit

AURION R-Gent SE-EM is a high efficiency silver enhancement reagent for electron microscopy. It intensifies the gold particles by homogeneous deposition of metallic silver on the particle surface.

AURION R-Gent SE-EM is available in a kit containing the following:

• 30 ml of ready-to-use ENHANCER,
• 3 ml of concentrated INITIATOR and
• 30 ml of ACTIVATOR.
• a 3 ml empty dropping bottle, labelled "DEVELOPER".

For many other applications, the detection in electron microscopy of ultra small gold particles requires a process of particle enhancement. For this purpose, Danscher 's method is very much the standard, and attempts to improve the features of Danscher 's system met with only minimal success over a long period of time.  

The aim of the development of AURION R-Gent SE-EM was to establish a system with greater efficiency and homogeneity, at least comparable to the Danscher method, however with reduced acidity and sensitivity to light. The reagents should also have low viscosity for suitability for pre-embedding immunogold labelling.

Introduction

The silver enhancement response is a gold particle-catalyzed reduction in which silver ions are converted to metallic silver with the electron source being a photographic forming compound. In addition, a "protective colloid" is incorporated to the enhancement solution in many applications to limit the diffusion of reagents to the surface of the gold particles, thus providing a way of controlling particle growth.

Product Description

AURION R-Gent SE-EM is a high efficiency silver enhancement reagent for electron microscopy. It intensifies the gold particles by homogeneous deposition of metallic silver on the particle surface. The resulting electron dense signal is easily detected and is compatible with heavy metal counterstaining. The reagent has extremely delayed auto-nucleation and can be used under standard laboratory light conditions. It also has low viscosity, which is especially advantageous for pre-embedding immunogold applications. The enhancement mixture has a pH of 8.1-8.2.

AURION R-Gent SE-EM has been tested ntensively for the enhancement of AURION Ultra Small Immunogold reagents.

The INITIATOR is a concentrated solution which must be diluted and activated before use, using the ACTIVATOR. This resulting mixture is the DEVELOPER.

The now ready-to-use DEVELOPER has a shelf life of one month. It is suggested to prepare fresh DEVELOPER at least every month.

The undiluted solutions have a shelf life of 10 months when stored at 4°C. INITIATOR can be stored at -20°C for prolonged shelf life.

For enhancement one drop of DEVELOPER is mixed with 20 drops of ENHANCER. The typical enhancement time is between 20 and 40 minutes. Specimens may be contrasted according to standard procedures.

The kit with 30 ml of ENHANCER accomodates up to 1000 EM grid specimens. The kit with 90 ml of ENHANCER is suitable for pre-embedding immunogold labeling; the number of specimens it accomodates depends on the volume of reagent used per specimen.

For each lot, the specific enhancement activity and level of autonucleation are monitored by spectrophotometric techniques.

Storage:

The AURION R-Gent SE-EM components are stored at 4°C and allowed to reach room temperature before use. SE-EM INITIATOR may be stored at -20°C for prolonged shelf life