Optimized visualization of liposomes: a comparative analysis based on the signal-to-noise ratio

Liposomes are widely utilized in the cosmetic, functional food, and pharmaceutical industries due to their effectiveness as carriers for substance delivery and their high potential for diverse applications. This study involved a systematic comparison of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of images of liposomes by comparing the effectiveness of the staining agents uranyl acetate, uranyl formate, ammonium molybdate, and sodium phosphotungstate for liposome visualization. Additionally, the importance of cross-linking using glutaraldehyde on SNR enhancement was evaluated. The results revealed that the imaging outcome markedly depended on the staining solution, with a notable increase in the SNR following treatment with glutaraldehyde. These findings underscore the critical role of cross-linking in enhancing the quality of liposome visualization via TEM. Such insights offer valuable guidance for the selection of staining agents and sample preparation protocols. This contributes to successful liposome screening and enabling higher-quality experiments and designs in subsequent stages.