Techniques

Our staff provides training, consultation, support and equipment management services. Larger projects, for example setting up new imaging and analysis methods, can be provided as scientific collaboration. We aim to be a facility for high-end data acquisition with a wide range of supported applications, and to keep pace with developing imaging technologies.

Currently supported techniques include:

  • widefield fluorescence imaging
  • point scanning and spinning disk confocal imaging
  • high-content confocal and widefield imaging
  • fluorescence lifetime imaging
  • light sheet microscopy
  • STED superresolution microscopy

All methods are available for both live and fixed samples. Data storage and cell culture facilities are also provided. Open access to the instruments is provided after initial user training.

Here is an overview of out instruments and where they work best:

Zeiss LSM 990, Airyscan detector has the highest spatial resolution we have available, especially combined with stacks and jcdv deconvolution. Also has option to image 32 channel emission spectra on one shot.

Evident FV4000, silicon optics especially good for live tissue imaging. If measuring intensities with a confocal is necessary, this is the best option. Actively stabilized lasers and photon counting detectors.

Leica Stellaris 8 has a white light laser and fluorescence lifetime detectors. Can separate overlapping fluorophores by lifetime and generally cuts away autofluorescence very well. As both excitation and emission are freely tunable, can be tailored to different fluorophores optimally. The only choice for IR fluorophores.

Leica SP8 upright, basic workhorse point scanner except that it has a very nice dipping 25x water objective.

Leica SP8 STED is the next microscope to be decommissioned, at the moment basic inverted workhorse and most FRAP projects are still here though they are moving to Evident and Zeiss.

Aurox Clarity (2pcs) cheap to use workhorses with slightly less confocality compared to point scanners. Very fast for imaging large areas.

Leica DM6000, good upright fluorescence microscope for fixed samples.

Deltavision Ultra, sensitive fluorescence microscope for live cell imaging with optional deconvolution.

Molecular Devices Micro, if you want to image the same positions from a multiwell plate with fluorescence or brightfield, this is the tool to use.

Zeiss CellDiscoverer 7, use this for all the well plate projects that don't fit on the Micro. Good also for confocal live cell imaging.