Meltem Sezen Ozkoc, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Eindhoven, Netherlands

Plasma focused ion beam (PFIB) technologies are transforming life science research by enabling high-throughput, high-fidelity sample preparation and volumetric imaging across both cryogenic and ambient conditions. This workshop highlights the capabilities and impact of Thermo Scientific™ PFIB platforms—Hydra Bio™ and Arctis™—in supporting advanced workflows for structural and cellular biology.

PFIB systems employ multi-ion plasma sources (Xe, Ar, O, N) to achieve enhanced sputter rates, improved surface quality, and reduced implantation artifacts relative to gallium-based FIB, enabling efficient processing of large biological volumes and preparation of high-quality cryo-lamellae. The Hydra Bio PFIB extends these capabilities across a broad experimental space, supporting both cryogenic and room-temperature workflows. Its adaptive automation framework, including adaptive scanning, enables spatially selective dose management and optimized acquisition strategies. Combined with batch processing and large-area milling approaches such as spin milling, this facilitates uniform material removal at shallow incidence angles, particularly beneficial for resin-embedded specimens, enabling high-resolution volumetric imaging and reproducible targeting across extended fields of view.

For cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), the Arctis Cryo-PFIB is optimized for automated, high-throughput lamella fabrication under stable cryogenic conditions. Integrated fluorescence microscopy enables correlative targeting within vitrified cells, while direct connectivity to cryo-TEM via the Autoloader system supports contamination-minimized, end-to-end transfer. Advanced automation and remote operation enable reproducible, unattended lamella preparation, supporting consistent lamella thickness and quality at scale.

PFIB technologies offer significant advantages over conventional gallium-based systems, including higher milling efficiency, reduced ion implantation, and improved surface integrity, particularly for thick, heterogeneous, and beam-sensitive biological specimens. These capabilities enable reliable preparation of electron-transparent lamellae and large-volume datasets while preserving ultrastructural context. The flexibility of PFIB across imaging modalities and sample conditions provides a robust platform for high-resolution, multiscale life science investigations.