Environmental scanning microscopy - applications in pharmacy and agriculture

Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) is a powerful tool for investigations of untreated biological samples. Beside this advantage, ESEM gives also the possibility to observe drying and wetting processes of surfaces directly. During such in situ investigations, the specimen can be kept in an equilibrium state with defined ambient humidity conditions. Especially, the observation of wet, untreated samples is of great interest in medicine, pharmacy, and agriculture and gives a pla tform for interdisciplinary cooperation. In pharmacy, investigations of morphological changes are of interest in order to describe the material processing or de gradation of pharmaceutical excipients or biodegradable implants which are in direct contact with water. Further, direct investigations of materials which are in direct contact with the human body, e.g. wound foams after explantation, allow a validation of the therapeutic process. Otherwise, ESEM opens new opportunities to observe biological processes, e.g. of fungal development on the epidermis of leaves. More detailed knowledge of the penetration process is a prerequisite for new strategies in the development of efficient fungicides.