a method of making a miniature chamber assembly that provides a miniature capillary environment in which a liquid medium containing microscopic size particulate material can be placed for study under a microscope includes the steps of forming components which are inadequate as to wettability relative to the liquid medium , altering the wettability of the components relative to the liquid medium so that they can provide a miniaturized capillary environment that can contain the liquid medium with particulate material for a time sufficient to prevent deterioration while being studied , and assembling the components to define the miniaturized capillary environment .