Thread: dissertation help please

Hi, Im currently researching for my dissertation in my 3rd year of a forensic science course. Im doing a lab based dissertation and I have to use a scanning electron microscope.

The problem I am having is trying to find a way to visualise testosterone with the SEM. Is this possible? My supervisor said he doesnt know, but if I can oxidise or reduce the testosterone I could add a metallic marker to the testosterone to visualise it.

The levels of testosterone will be of a very small level, probably less than 1ng. If its not possible to visualise the testosterone using SEM, maybe by using something on the end? such as EDX?

I dont know SEM very much and am still learning my way around the technique, any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time

Google, Images, "Testosterone molecule". it's a few atoms wide so forget the SEM, which will let you see the dirt under a 'flea's fingernail' but nothing so small as atomic or molecular level. You'd need to coat it in gold anyway....

im not after visualising it with the SEM, so I wont need to use a gold coat, just need a way to confirm that it is present. I guess I asked slightly wrong before

You should use antibodies against testosterone to visualise it (fluorescent labbeled antibodies).
If you have samples and want to determine the amount of testosterone use ELISA (see wikipedia).
If want to visualise inside a cell you could use fluorescent microscopy