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GIG Holey Carbon Grids for Cryo-EM

Achieve reproducible, artifact-free cryo-EM data with GIG grids — photolithographically defined holey carbon supports engineered for single-particle analysis (SPA), electron tomography (ET), and micro-electron diffraction (MicroED). Four hole patterns, three mesh materials, and flexible pack sizes give every structural biology laboratory a grid optimized for their sample and workflow.

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Precision-manufactured micromachined holey carbon grids for single-particle analysis, electron tomography, and MicroED. Four hole patterns, three mesh materials, flexible pack sizes — trusted in published research from 2011 to present.

Overview

What Are GIG Holey Carbon Grids?

GIG holey carbon grids are micromachined cryo-EM supports manufactured by photolithography — the same semiconductor-grade patterning technology used in integrated circuit fabrication. Each grid carries a precisely defined array of circular holes on a thin amorphous carbon film (10–12 nm) cast over a metal mesh. When a sample is vitrified across these holes, ice-suspended molecules are imaged against vacuum rather than carbon, maximizing contrast and resolution.

Unlike conventional supports with poorly defined or random holes, GIG grids guarantee hole diameter, hole-to-hole spacing, and array regularity down to sub-micron tolerances — critical for automated data collection pipelines such as EPU, SerialEM, and cryoSPARC Live, where grid-square targeting relies on predictable geometry.

Product Catalog

GIG Holey Carbon Grid Catalog

All GIG grid models are available in copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and gold (Au) mesh with 200, 300, or 400 mesh density, in packs of 50 or 100 grids. Use the table below to identify the model that best matches your target particle size and imaging strategy.

Cat No.	Hole Type	Hole Ø	Spacing	Pitch	Best For
GIG-1010	R1/1	1.0 µm	1.0 µm	2.0 µm	High-density array; small particles (<200 kDa); dense packing SPA
GIG-1213	R1.2/1.3	1.2 µm	1.3 µm	2.5 µm	Versatile all-round; 200 kDa–1 MDa SPA and ET
GIG-2010	R2/1	2.0 µm	1.0 µm	3.0 µm	Large complexes (>1 MDa); high-tilt electron tomography
GIG-2020	R2/2	2.0 µm	2.0 µm	4.0 µm	Largest window; MicroED; thick-ice samples

Hole Geometry & Nomenclature

The GIG model number encodes the key geometric parameters:

GIG-1213 = 1.2 µm hole diameter + 1.3 µm hole-to-hole spacing (center distance: 2.5 µm)

Hole Diameter — determines the imaging window size
Hole Spacing — carbon bar width between adjacent holes
Center Distance — diameter + spacing; defines the array pitch

All holes are guaranteed clean and polymer-free for artifact-free cryo-EM data collection.

Pricing Overview

Mesh Material	Mesh Options (lines/inch)	50 grids/box	100 grids/box
Copper (Cu)	200 / 300 / 400	$666	$1,200
Nickel (Ni)	200 / 300 / 400	$830	$1,495
Gold (Au)	200 / 300 / 400	$1,278	$2,301

300 and 400 mesh available at the same price for all models. Contact us for specific mesh/model combinations.

Mesh Comparison

Choosing the Right Mesh Material

The metal mesh underlying the carbon film affects X-ray background, sample chemistry, beam-induced motion, and overall image quality. Select based on your detector, sample sensitivity, and resolution target.

Mesh Material	Copper (Cu)	Nickel (Ni)	Gold (Au)
X-ray fluorescence	Background present	Low background	Negligible background
Chemical stability	Moderate (oxidizes)	High	Highest (inert)
Magnetic susceptibility	Diamagnetic	Ferromagnetic — avoid with MRI-compatible TEM	Diamagnetic
Recommended use	Standard SPA; cost-effective screening	Cu-sensitive samples; detergent/nanodisc proteins	Highest-resolution SPA; cryo-ET; demanding samples

Copper (Cu) Grids — Best Value

The industry-standard choice for the vast majority of cryo-EM projects. Copper mesh provides excellent mechanical rigidity, predictable beam behavior, and the lowest cost per dataset. Recommended as the default starting point for new samples and high-throughput screening campaigns.

Widest compatibility with existing cryo-EM protocols and literature
200, 300, and 400 mesh available
Suitable for EPU, SerialEM, and cryoSPARC Live automation

Nickel (Ni) Grids — Reduced Metal Toxicity

Preferred when sample components interact adversely with copper ions that leach from the mesh at low pH or in the presence of chelating agents. Nickel grids provide comparable mechanical performance at a moderate price premium and are widely used for membrane protein samples in detergent or nanodisc formulations.

Prevents copper-mediated sample degradation
Ideal for detergent-solubilized or amphipol-stabilized membrane proteins
Lower X-ray fluorescence background than Cu

Gold (Au) Grids — Highest Resolution

Gold mesh grids are the preferred support for resolutions approaching or exceeding 2 Å. The advantages are threefold: gold is chemically inert (no ion leaching); gold expands under cryogenic cooling in a way that reduces beam-induced motion in the carbon film; and gold generates negligible X-ray fluorescence, eliminating a source of background noise in energy-filtered TEM.

Minimized beam-induced motion — enabled by gold thermal expansion coefficient
Chemically inert — safe for pH-sensitive, metal-sensitive, or ligand-bound samples
Negligible X-ray fluorescence — cleaner EFTEM data
Recommended for highest-resolution SPA and for challenging sample chemistries

Specifications

Full Technical Specifications

The following specifications apply to all GIG holey carbon grid models unless otherwise stated.

Parameter	Specification
Carbon film thickness	10–12 nm (amorphous carbon)
Film deposition method	Thermal evaporation under high vacuum
Hole shape	Circular; defined by photolithography
Hole diameter tolerance	±0.1 µm from nominal
Grid diameter	3.05 mm (standard cryo-EM grid format)
Mesh materials	Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Gold (Au)
Mesh densities	200, 300, 400 lines/inch
Hole patterns	R1/1 (GIG-1010), R1.2/1.3 (GIG-1213), R2/1 (GIG-2010), R2/2 (GIG-2020)
Pack sizes	50 grids/box or 100 grids/box
Cleanliness guarantee	Polymer-free; no residual photoresist
Automation compatibility	FEI/Thermo Fisher EPU, SerialEM, Leginon, cryoSPARC Live
Autoloader compatibility	Titan Krios, Glacios, Talos Arctica, JEOL CRYO ARM
Storage	Room temperature, sealed, dry; avoid humidity and direct light
QC	Optical and electron microscopy inspection per lot

Advantages

Why Choose GIG Grids?

Lithographic Precision: Photolithographically defined hole arrays for uniform size, shape, and positioning.
Ultra-Thin Carbon Film: 10–12 nm amorphous carbon with minimal thickness variation.
Three Mesh Materials: Copper, Nickel, and Gold mesh options for diverse sample chemistry.
Automation Ready: Compatible with EPU, SerialEM, Leginon, and cryoSPARC Live.
Four Hole Patterns: R1/1, R1.2/1.3, R2/1, and R2/2 for diverse data collection strategies.
Flexible Packaging: 50 and 100 grid packs. Bulk and custom orders available.

Publications

Published Studies Using GIG Grids

The following peer-reviewed studies used GIG holey carbon grids for data collection. Achieved resolutions demonstrate consistent high-performance vitrification and imaging across diverse biological systems.

Year	Sample & Resolution	Grid Used	Reference
2025	hTRPC3 membrane protein, 2.72 Å	GIG (1/1) Cu	Zang J, Shi Y, Tao W, et al. Unveiling eukaryotic membrane proteins in high resolution using peptide solubilization. Journal of Molecular Biology. 2025: 169467.
2020	CsgG-CsgF secretion channel, 2.9 Å	GIG R1/1 (Cu)	Zhang M, Shi H, Zhang X, et al. Cryo-EM structure of the nonameric CsgG-CsgF complex and its implications for controlling curli biogenesis in Enterobacteriaceae. PLoS Biology. 2020, 18(6): e3000748.
2019	Pre-60S ribosome, 3.65 Å	GiG R422	Zhou D, Zhu X, Zheng S, et al. Cryo-EM structure of an early precursor of large ribosomal subunit reveals a half-assembled intermediate. Protein & Cell. 2019, 10(2): 120-130.
2011	Cypovirus (CPV), 3.9 Å	GiG 200-mesh	Cheng L, Sun J, Zhang K, et al. Atomic model of a cypovirus built from cryo-EM structure provides insight into the mechanism of mRNA capping. PNAS. 2011, 108(4): 1373-1378.

Cryo-EM structure of a half-assembled Pre-60S ribosome intermediate at 3.65 Å resolution, showing 12 assembly factors and 19 ribosomal proteins.

3.65 Å Pre-60S Ribosome Cryo-EM Structure.

Pre-60S Ribosome — 3.65 Å Resolution

Half-assembled intermediate of the large ribosomal subunit, with 12 assembly factors and 19 ribosomal proteins modeled. Data collected on GiG R422 holey carbon grids using Titan Krios 300 kV.

Figure reproduced from: Zhou, Zhu, Zheng et al. Protein & Cell 10, 120–130 (2019). doi:10.1007/s13238-018-0526-7 — Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Structure of the E. coli CsgG-CsgF secretion channel at 2.9 Å resolution, revealing a unique two-constriction channel in curli biogenesis machinery.

2.9 Å CsgG-CsgF Secretion Channel Structure

CsgG-CsgF Secretion Channel — 2.9 Å Resolution

Structure of the E. coli curli biogenesis secretion machinery, revealing a unique two-constriction channel. Data collected on GIG R1/1 (Cu) grids using Talos Arctica with K2 detector.

Figure reproduced from: Zhang, Shi, Zhang et al. PLoS Biology 18, e3000748 (2020). doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3000748 — Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Reviews

What Our Customers Say

Hear from researchers and facility directors who rely on GIG grids for their cryo-EM work.

"We've been using GIG Holey Carbon Grids for our single-particle cryo-EM projects, and the consistency has been excellent across different batches. The lithographically defined hole arrays provide very uniform ice distribution, which has made screening and data collection much more efficient for our team. We especially appreciate the availability of multiple hole patterns, since it allows us to match the grid geometry to different protein complex sizes."

– Dr. M. R., Cryo-EM Facility Director, Academic Research Center

"We started ordering GIG grids for MicroED method development, and they quickly became one of our preferred grid options. The range of mesh materials and mesh densities gives us enough flexibility for different crystal types, while the consistent manufacturing quality reduces the amount of trial and error during screening. I also like that the grids are available in both 50- and 100-grid pack sizes, which is convenient for both pilot testing and routine use."

– A. B., Application Scientist, Pharmaceutical Structural Biology Team

"From a procurement perspective, Creative Biostructure has been very easy to work with. The pricing structure is straightforward, the product options are clearly organized, and the availability of different models such as GIG-1010, GIG-1213, GIG-2010, and GIG-2020 makes it simple for our researchers to select what they need. Shipment timelines have been practical for project planning, and the team has been responsive when we needed support for bulk ordering."

– N. W., Laboratory Operations Manager, Biotech R&D Company

FAQs

FAQs About Our GIG Grids

Practical guide: particles <200 kDa → GIG-1010 (R1/1) for maximum hole density; 200 kDa–1 MDa general SPA → GIG-1213 (R1.2/1.3) for best balance of window size and density; large complexes >1 MDa or sub-tomogram averaging → GIG-2010 (R2/1); MicroED or very thick ice → GIG-2020 (R2/2) for the widest window.

Three reasons matter most at highest resolution: (1) gold is chemically inert — no ion leaching that can denature sensitive samples; (2) gold's thermal expansion under cryogenic conditions reduces beam-induced motion amplitude in the carbon film; (3) gold generates negligible X-ray fluorescence, reducing background in energy-filtered TEM. The cost premium is justified for sub-3 Å resolution goals or metal-sensitive samples.

200-mesh: larger squares (~130 µm), more imaging area per square, slightly less mechanical support. 300-mesh: the most widely used compromise (~85 µm squares). 400-mesh: maximum support (~65 µm squares), preferred for frequent handling or autoloaders that exert higher mechanical stress. All three mesh densities are available for every GIG model and material at the same price.

Yes. GIG grids respond to standard glow-discharge (air or amylamine atmosphere, 15–60 s) and plasma cleaning (Solarus, Fischione 1020) in the same way as other commercial holey-carbon grids. Optimize treatment parameters per sample; start from conditions used for your current grid type and adjust to achieve your target contact angle.

Standard catalog items (50 or 100 grids/box) are in stock and typically ship within 3-5 business days. Bulk orders (>500 grids of a single model/material) may require 1-2 weeks. Custom configurations: 4-6 weeks from order confirmation. Contact us for institutional or standing-order agreements.

More FAQs →

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