ANTcryo vs Quantifoil: Which Cryo-EM Support Film Is Right for You?
Choosing the right cryo-EM grid directly impacts your data quality, sample preparation success rate, and research timeline. Here is an evidence-based comparison to help you decide.
Why Your Choice of Cryo-EM Grid Matters
The support film is the thin layer on which your sample sits during cryo-EM imaging. Its material properties affect three critical aspects of your experiment:
Protein Adsorption
Carbon films strongly adsorb proteins at the air–water interface, causing denaturation, aggregation, and preferred orientation — all major bottlenecks in SPA.
Beam-Induced Motion
Poor conductivity leads to electron charging and beam-induced motion (BIM), degrading high-resolution information and requiring longer collection times.
Sample Prep Success
Glow discharge requirements, wettability, and particle distribution all determine whether your grid is usable — or ends up in the trash.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | ANTcryo (Amorphous NiTi) | Quantifoil (Holey Carbon) |
|---|---|---|
| Support Film Material | Amorphous nickel-titanium alloy (Au grid) | Holey carbon (Cu or Au grid) |
| Protein Adsorption | ~10x lower than carbon film | Standard (high adsorption) |
| Glow Discharge Required | No — self-wetting | Yes (typically required) |
| Beam-Induced Motion | Reduced (better conductivity) | Standard |
| Resolution Improvement | +0.2 Å vs carbon film (user data) | Baseline |
| Particle Inlet Rate | Higher (less adsorption = more particles in holes) | Standard |
| Preferred Orientation | Reduced (asymmetric surface) | Common issue |
| Film Thickness | 25 ± 3 nm | ~12–15 nm |
| Grid Options | Au 300/400 mesh, Cu 300 mesh | Cu or Au, 200–400 mesh |
| Hole Patterns | 1.2/1.3 µm, 2.0/1.0 µm | R0.6/1.0, R1.2/1.3, R2/2, etc. |
| Published Papers | 100+ (Science, Cell, Nature Methods, etc.) | Thousands |
| Packaging | 50 pieces/box | 100 pieces/box (typical) |
| Patent | CN202010425127.5 | — |
When to Choose ANTcryo
Membrane Protein Structural Biology
Low protein adsorption is the single biggest advantage for membrane proteins, which are especially vulnerable to denaturation at the air–water interface. ANTcryo's amorphous NiTi alloy surface reduces adsorption by ~10x, preserving particle integrity and increasing usable particles per micrograph.
High-Resolution Single Particle Analysis
Better conductivity means less beam-induced motion, which directly translates to higher-resolution reconstructions. Users report +0.2 Å improvement compared to carbon films — meaningful when pushing from 2.5 Å to 2.3 Å.
Particles Stuck at Air–Water Interface
If you see particles denatured, aggregated, or showing preferred orientation on your Quantifoil grids, the low-adsorption NiTi alloy surface directly addresses this root cause.
High-Throughput Sample Screening
Self-wetting means no glow discharge step — just apply sample and plunge. Faster iteration when screening buffer conditions or sample concentrations.
When Quantifoil May Be Sufficient
- •Routine samples with well-established protocols — if your lab has years of successful Quantifoil data collection and your samples work reliably, switching may not be necessary.
- •Large soluble proteins without adsorption issues — some samples naturally avoid the air–water interface problem and do not benefit from low-adsorption films.
- •Budget constraints with existing inventory — if you have a large stock of Quantifoil grids and your current project is working, it may make sense to finish before switching.
- •Cryo-ET on thin lamellae with standard FIB milling — for FIB-SEM workflows, the support film material is less critical after lamella thinning.
What Researchers Report
“The ANTcryo grids show significantly reduced protein adsorption compared to conventional carbon support films, resulting in higher particle counts per hole and improved data collection efficiency.”
— Based on published ANTcryo user data in high-impact journals (Science, Cell, Nature Methods)
“Self-wetting property eliminates the glow discharge step, simplifying the sample preparation workflow and improving reproducibility across experiments.”
— Consistent finding across multiple ANTcryo user publications
Over 100 peer-reviewed papers have been published using ANTcryo grids, including in Science, Cell, and Nature Methods. See our publications page for the complete list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ANTcryo require glow discharge before sample application?
No. ANTcryo's amorphous NiTi alloy film is naturally hydrophilic and self-wetting. You can apply your sample directly without any glow discharge treatment, saving time and improving reproducibility.
Can I use ANTcryo with standard Vitrobot / Leica EM GP protocols?
Yes. ANTcryo grids are compatible with all standard plunge-freezing devices. Simply skip the glow discharge step and proceed with your usual blotting parameters.
What is the minimum order quantity?
ANTcryo grids are sold in boxes of 50 pieces. Contact us for pricing and custom configurations.
Is ANTcryo available in different mesh counts and hole sizes?
Yes. Standard models include Au 300 mesh (1.2/1.3 µm), Cu 300 mesh (1.2/1.3 µm), Au 400 mesh (1.2/1.3 µm), and Au 300 mesh (2.0/1.0 µm). Custom configurations are available — contact us for details.
Ready to Try ANTcryo?
Request a free sample kit and see the difference amorphous NiTi alloy can make for your cryo-EM data.