Scanning electron microscopes (SEM) FEI Inspect SEM Standard tungsten (W) filament gun with operating voltage between 200 V to 30 kV. High Vacuum, Low Vacuum operational modes. Chamber size: 284mm wide. Secondary and backscatter imaging capabilities. Integrated Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental mapping and quantitative chemical analysis. Designed to be a platform for dynamic experiments. Can be equipped with specialized accessories. FEI Quanta 200 SEM High-performance tungsten (W) filament gun with operating voltage between 200 V to 30 kV. High Vacuum, Low Vacuum, Environmental operational modes. Chamber size: 284 mm wide. Secondary and backscatter imaging capabilities. Integrated Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental mapping and quantitative chemical analysis. Designed to be a simpler, more robust tool for routine surface inspection and elemental analysis. Transmission electron microscopes (TEM) Philips Morgagni TEM Tungsten (W) filament gun with operating voltage between 40 KV to 100 kV. Offers a wide range of magnifications up to 64 Kx. Easy to use TEM microscope for the purpose of standard ultrastructural investigations. Light microscopes Zeiss Super-resolution Inverted Confocal microscope LSM 900 Airyscan 2 detector with a lateral resolution of 120 nm and an axial resolution of 350 nm. Inverted stage configuration. Capable of phase contrast illumination no DIC. Photomultiplier detection. High-Speed Imaging (Multiplex Mode). live cell examination. Large Area Mapping. Non-contact 3D surface topography characterization. Zeiss Inverted Confocal Microscope (LSM710) Capable of approx. 250-300 nm resolution over most commonly used fluorescent dyes. Inverted stage configuration. Capable of phase contrast illumination no DIC. Photomultiplier detection. Live cell examination. Leica inverted DMI6000B Live Cell Microscope Standard widefield fluorescent microscope capable of live cell imaging. Camera detection so can be used for non-fluorescent colour photomicrography. Full environmental control. Leica upright LMD6 fluorescent laser capture microdissection microscope Microscope capable of laser microdissection. Detection camera based. Can also be used as a standard upright widefield fluorescent microscope. No environmental control. Probe microscope MFP 3DAsylum Research AFM Industry-leading 120 µm XY range and a 15 - 40 µm Z range. Low Noise Performance (Z-height noise as low as Modular Architecture. Compatible with a wide range of sample in different environments (air or liquid). Supports several imaging modes including Contact, AC (Tapping), and non-contact. Nanomechanical Characterization (Force spectroscopy). Optical Integration with inverted light microscope from Olympus. Sample preparation Quorum Q150T E Plus Coater Automatic carbon rod coating. Store of multiple coating recipes. Coating of multiple samples (up to six). Multistage options. Sputter vacuum range between 5 x 10-3 and 5 x 10-1 mbar. Emitech K550X Coater Automatic conductive layer sputtering of Pd / Au. Integrated instrument panel and plug-in electronics. Coating of multiple samples (up to six). Vacuum gauge range of 1x10-2mbar. Eimitech K850 Critical Point drier Semi-automated critical point drying of delicate biological samples, high-moisture content samples. Built-in thermo-electric heating and adiabatic cooling. Vertical chamber 32 mm Ø x 47 mm H, with glass viewing port and safety shield. Standard specimen holder with 12 individual specimen wells (each 8 mm Ø x 8 mm H). Requires a cylinder of liquid CO₂ fitted with a siphon tube. Binder drying oven Uniform drying conditions thanks to APT.line™ technology. Temperature range between 60°C to 230°C. 2 chrome-plated racks. Hydro-mechanical thermostat. Without convection capabilities.

Publications and case studies

Publications Khan I, et al. Fabrication, characterization and optimization of nanostructured lipid carrier formulations using Beclomethasone dipropionate for pulmonary drug delivery via medical nebulizers, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2021. Khan I, et al., Investigation and comparison of the performance of various throat spray devices using different types of nano-formulations with encapsulated lidocaine as a local anaesthetic, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 114, Part B, 2025. Khan I, Trans-Resveratrol-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Formulations for Pulmonary Drug Delivery Using Medical Nebulizers, Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 114, 2025. Yahya Z, et al., Physical and mechanical properties of bio-modified geopolymer concrete employing bacteria, Journal of Building Engineering, 117, 2026.

Image processing software MATLAB Fiji image processing software Microscopy Societies Royal Microscopy Society European Microscopy Society

Imaging Facility LJMU

Scanning electron microscopes (SEM)

FEI Inspect SEM

Standard tungsten (W) filament gun with operating voltage between 200 V to 30 kV.
High Vacuum, Low Vacuum operational modes.
Chamber size: 284mm wide.
Secondary and backscatter imaging capabilities.
Integrated Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental mapping and quantitative chemical analysis.
Designed to be a platform for dynamic experiments. Can be equipped with specialized accessories.

FEI Quanta 200 SEM

High-performance tungsten (W) filament gun with operating voltage between 200 V to 30 kV.
High Vacuum, Low Vacuum, Environmental operational modes.
Chamber size: 284 mm wide.
Secondary and backscatter imaging capabilities.
Integrated Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental mapping and quantitative chemical analysis.
Designed to be a simpler, more robust tool for routine surface inspection and elemental analysis.

Transmission electron microscopes (TEM)

Philips Morgagni TEM

Tungsten (W) filament gun with operating voltage between 40 KV to 100 kV.
Offers a wide range of magnifications up to 64 Kx.
Easy to use TEM microscope for the purpose of standard ultrastructural investigations.

Light microscopes

Zeiss Super-resolution Inverted Confocal microscope LSM 900

Airyscan 2 detector with a lateral resolution of 120 nm and an axial resolution of 350 nm.
Inverted stage configuration.
Capable of phase contrast illumination no DIC.
Photomultiplier detection.
High-Speed Imaging (Multiplex Mode).
live cell examination.
Large Area Mapping.
Non-contact 3D surface topography characterization.

Zeiss Inverted Confocal Microscope (LSM710)

Capable of approx. 250-300 nm resolution over most commonly used fluorescent dyes.
Inverted stage configuration.
Capable of phase contrast illumination no DIC.
Photomultiplier detection.
Live cell examination.

Leica inverted DMI6000B Live Cell Microscope

Standard widefield fluorescent microscope capable of live cell imaging.
Camera detection so can be used for non-fluorescent colour photomicrography.
Full environmental control.

Leica upright LMD6 fluorescent laser capture microdissection microscope

Microscope capable of laser microdissection.
Detection camera based. Can also be used as a standard upright widefield fluorescent microscope.
No environmental control.

Probe microscope

MFP 3DAsylum Research AFM

Industry-leading 120 µm XY range and a 15 - 40 µm Z range.
Low Noise Performance (Z-height noise as low as <0.06 nm).
Modular Architecture.
Compatible with a wide range of sample in different environments (air or liquid).
Supports several imaging modes including Contact, AC (Tapping), and non-contact.
Nanomechanical Characterization (Force spectroscopy).
Optical Integration with inverted light microscope from Olympus.

Sample preparation

Quorum Q150T E Plus Coater

Automatic carbon rod coating.
Store of multiple coating recipes.
Coating of multiple samples (up to six).
Multistage options.
Sputter vacuum range between 5 x 10-3 and 5 x 10-1 mbar.

Emitech K550X Coater

Automatic conductive layer sputtering of Pd / Au.
Integrated instrument panel and plug-in electronics.
Coating of multiple samples (up to six).
Vacuum gauge range of 1x10-2mbar.

Eimitech K850 Critical Point drier

Semi-automated critical point drying of delicate biological samples, high-moisture content samples.
Built-in thermo-electric heating and adiabatic cooling.
Vertical chamber 32 mm Ø x 47 mm H, with glass viewing port and safety shield.
Standard specimen holder with 12 individual specimen wells (each 8 mm Ø x 8 mm H).
Requires a cylinder of liquid CO₂ fitted with a siphon tube.

Binder drying oven

Uniform drying conditions thanks to APT.line™ technology.
Temperature range between 60°C to 230°C.
2 chrome-plated racks.
Hydro-mechanical thermostat.
Without convection capabilities.

Publications

Khan I, et al. Fabrication, characterization and optimization of nanostructured lipid carrier formulations using Beclomethasone dipropionate for pulmonary drug delivery via medical nebulizers, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2021.
Khan I, et al., Investigation and comparison of the performance of various throat spray devices using different types of nano-formulations with encapsulated lidocaine as a local anaesthetic, Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 114, Part B, 2025.
Khan I, Trans-Resveratrol-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Formulations for Pulmonary Drug Delivery Using Medical Nebulizers, Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 114, 2025.
Yahya Z, et al., Physical and mechanical properties of bio-modified geopolymer concrete employing bacteria, Journal of Building Engineering, 117, 2026.

Image processing software

Microscopy Societies

Email: LJMUmicroMooresTeam@ljmu.ac.uk

Address:
Microscopy Imaging Suite, Life Science Building
Liverpool John Morres University
Byrom Street Campus
Liverpool L3 3AF

Take a virtual tour of our Imaging Facility LJMU facilities