Us1000 894 ccd

Cryo-TEM measurements were performed with a Gatan cryo Holder 626 and a FEI Tecnai 20 TEM (200 kV) at approximately −174°C. The images were captured with a Gatan US1000 894 CCD and processed with Leginon software. To maintain the structural integrity of the worm-like micelles, Cryo-TEM samples were prepared in a controlled environment chamber to avoid damage and contamination during sample preparation. The samples were prepared with the following sequence of operations. Five milliliters of the sample was placed onto a perforated polymer film held by tweezers to ensure that the formation of the thin film spanned the mesh hole. After 10 seconds, the samples were immediately immersed into liquid ethane cooled by the nitrogen below its freezing point of −183°C. The samples were then stored in liquid nitrogen to protect against contamination before examination. Several images of each sample were taken, and a representative image was chosen to present.

Specimens for examination were stored in a controlled environment vitrification system with temperature and humidity control functions. The preparation of the cryo-TEM samples was performed with the following sequence of operations. First, 5 mL of the sample was placed onto a perforated polymer film held by tweezers to insure that the formation of the thin film spanned the mesh hole. Second, after 10 seconds, the samples were immediately immersed into liquid ethane just above its freezing point of −183°C. Third, the samples were then stored in liquid nitrogen to protect against contamination before they were moved to a Gatan cryo Holder 626 and examined with a FEI Tecnai 20 TEM (200 kV) at about −174°C. The images were captured with a Gatan US1000 894 CCD and processed with Leginon software.