Early greeting by FSK students and professors for Hi-Tech Instruments 30th anniversary
Calendar Year 2026: 30th Anniversary
Electron Microscopy (EM) Training for FSK, UKM
The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (Fakulti Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu, FSKB) was established on 1 September 1992 by Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Salleh Mohd Yasin. In 2011, the faculty was renamed the Faculty of Health Sciences (Fakulti Sains Kesihatan, FSK), reflecting its expanded scope and evolving academic mission.  1A.jpg)
Professor Hing Hiang Lian, who has served as an Associate Professor since the early days of FSK, has since retired from the faculty but continues to contribute actively by providing his expertise in electron microscopy (EM). His dedication and passion for teaching remain exemplary and continue to inspire both students and colleagues.
During his tenure as Secretary General of the Confederation of ASEAN Scientific Professionals (CAPSM), Professor Hing initiated efforts to support institutions across ASEAN that have limited access to advanced EM facilities such as Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). These initiatives aimed to strengthen regional capabilities in medical diagnostics, emerging infectious disease research, and other scientific disciplines.
In line with this vision, an annual EM training course has been conducted at the Application Refinement Laboratory of Hi-Tech Instruments for FSKB/FSK students. This initiative began during the tenure of Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Salleh Mohd Yasin as Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2007, and continues to play a key role in nurturing the next generation of scientists.
The strong commitment of UKM’s senior academicians to providing students with hands-on exposure to cutting-edge electron microscopy technologies is clearly reflected through the continued efforts of Tan Sri Emeritus Prof. Mohd Salleh and Prof. Hing.
This year’s EM training course was also attended by Professor Dr Ahmad Ismail, Council Member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, and Dato’ Abdul Harith bin Abdullah, Chairman of Ramssol Group Berhad, highlighting the significance and broad support for this initiative.
This year EM training course was also attended by Professor Dr Ahmad Ismail (Council member of the Academy of Science) and Dato’ Abdul Harith Bin Abdullah (Chairman, Ramssol Group Berhad)
Professor Hing Hiang Lian, who has served as an Associate Professor since the early days of FSK, has since retired from the faculty but continues to contribute actively by providing his expertise in electron microscopy (EM). His dedication and passion for teaching remain exemplary and continue to inspire both students and colleagues.
During his tenure as Secretary General of the Confederation of ASEAN Scientific Professionals (CAPSM), Professor Hing initiated efforts to support institutions across ASEAN that have limited access to advanced EM facilities such as Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). These initiatives aimed to strengthen regional capabilities in medical diagnostics, emerging infectious disease research, and other scientific disciplines.
In line with this vision, an annual EM training course has been conducted at the Application Refinement Laboratory of Hi-Tech Instruments for FSKB/FSK students. This initiative began during the tenure of Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Salleh Mohd Yasin as Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 2007, and continues to play a key role in nurturing the next generation of scientists.
The strong commitment of UKM’s senior academicians to providing students with hands-on exposure to cutting-edge electron microscopy technologies is clearly reflected through the continued efforts of Tan Sri Emeritus Prof. Mohd Salleh and Prof. Hing.
This year’s EM training course was also attended by Professor Dr Ahmad Ismail, Council Member of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, and Dato’ Abdul Harith bin Abdullah, Chairman of Ramssol Group Berhad, highlighting the significance and broad support for this initiative.
This year EM training course was also attended by Professor Dr Ahmad Ismail (Council member of the Academy of Science) and Dato’ Abdul Harith Bin Abdullah (Chairman, Ramssol Group Berhad)
The roles of FE-SEM and Bio-TEM
The Hitachi SU8700 sub-nanometer Schottky FE-SEM offers nanometer-scale resolution at low accelerating voltages, enabling high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of internal cellular and extracellular structures. This capability is essential for exploring complex cellular architectures with exceptional detail.
Students were demonstrated in SEM sample preparation techniques, including fixation, dehydration, drying, and coating of agar-based bacterial, yeast, and other biological samples. Advanced methodologies such as High-Pressure Freezing (HPF), Freeze Substitution (FS), Focused Ion Beam (FIB) preparation for biological samples, and Cryogenic FE-SEM techniques were also introduced. In addition, TEM sample preparation workflows—from fixation and dehydration to infiltration, embedding, and resin block preparation—were discussed in detail.
The 120 kV Bio-TEM, with a resolving power of approximately 0.2 nm (compared to ~200 nm for conventional light microscopy), enables visualization of cell organelles, cytoplasmic structures at the macromolecular level, as well as viruses and microorganisms—making it invaluable for diagnostic and research applications. These advantages were demonstrated through comparisons between HPF/FS-prepared samples and conventionally chemically fixed specimens, including fish retina samples.
Students were given a hands-on demonstration of rapid biological sample preparation using fresh colonies of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, starting directly from agar plates through to samples ready for FE-SEM observation. This simple and rapid preparation method was designed to familiarize students with fast turnaround techniques commonly used for preliminary screening and surface morphology studies.
The workflow involved graded alcohol fixation, progressing from 70% to 100% ethanol, followed by either air-drying or alcohol drying. Prepared samples were then mounted onto SEM stubs for imaging. Through this process, students were able to directly observe the surface morphology of bacterial and yeast cells under FE-SEM. Importantly, the session emphasized critical evaluation, where students were guided to identify and discuss preparation-induced artefacts, such as cell collapse, distortion, and shrinkage, which are commonly associated with rapid preparation methods.
To reinforce the importance of appropriate sample preparation, students were also exposed to properly prepared bacterial samples (including cocci and bacilli) that underwent glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide double fixation, followed by high-pressure freeze drying. These samples were examined alongside those prepared using the rapid method, allowing students to make direct comparisons between the two approaches. The comparison clearly demonstrated the reduction of shrinkage artefacts and improved structural preservation achieved through optimized fixation and advanced preparation techniques, highlighting the critical role of sample preparation in obtaining accurate and reliable electron microscopy data.
The Electron Microscopy training program provided FSK students with valuable hands-on exposure to both rapid and advanced sample preparation techniques, reinforcing the critical link between preparation methodology and imaging quality. Through direct comparison of rapid preparation methods and properly optimized fixation and cryo-based techniques, students developed a deeper understanding of how preparation-induced artefacts can influence data interpretation. The training not only enhanced technical competency in FE-SEM and Bio-TEM applications, but also cultivated critical thinking skills essential for high-quality research and diagnostic work. This initiative reflects the continued commitment of UKM’s senior academicians and industry partners to nurturing well-trained scientists equipped to utilize cutting-edge electron microscopy technologies in biomedical research and clinical applications.
The Electron Microscopy training program provided FSK students with valuable hands-on exposure to both rapid and advanced sample preparation techniques, reinforcing the critical link between preparation methodology and imaging quality. Through direct comparison of rapid preparation methods and properly optimized fixation and cryo-based techniques, students developed a deeper understanding of how preparation-induced artefacts can influence data interpretation. The training not only enhanced technical competency in FE-SEM and Bio-TEM applications, but also cultivated critical thinking skills essential for high-quality research and diagnostic work. This initiative reflects the continued commitment of UKM’s senior academicians and industry partners to nurturing well-trained scientists equipped to utilize cutting-edge electron microscopy technologies in biomedical research and clinical applications.
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