Light Microscopy

Our Light Microscopy Core offers a range of high-resolution fluorescence microscopes, specialized towards imaging live or fixed cells and tissues, and the necessary expertise and support to help you visualize what you need to see.

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Overview

Equipment

Contact

Overview

The Light Microscopy Core (LMC) provides access to a range of imaging modalities specialized for fluorescently labeled cells, tissue, and organisms. Technologies include fast widefield imaging, high-quality 3D confocal and Airyscan microscopy, spectral detection, super-resolution STED nanoscopy, and more. We will help you determine the best instrument for your specific imaging needs. We offer close collaboration with investigators from start to finish, assisting in experimental design, hands-on training, image optimization, data interpretation and analysis, and even the development of novel imaging technologies. Remote workstations for image and data analysis are available to process your images using a variety of software packages. The LMC is open to both on-campus and external users.

Our Services

We offer multimodal microscopes that combine high-resolution point-scanning confocal microscopy, fast and simple brightfield and fluorescence widefield imaging, as well as super-resolution nanoscopy for:

  • High-resolution volumetric imaging of sub-micrometer structures from dendritic spines to protein clusters
  • 3D imaging of entire tissue sections, slices and small organisms
  • Fast tile-scanning of entire microscope slides
  • Sub-diffraction 3D multicolor imaging of nanoscopic structures (30nm—100nm) with isotropic spatial resolution using STED in living or fixed samples
  • Advanced Airyscan detection to enhance signal-to-noise, reduce excitation intensity, and achieve sub-confocal spatial resolution
  • Simultaneous multicolor imaging for 2—6 color channels (more possible).
  • 34-channel multi-spectral detection for spectral unmixing of spectrally-close fluorophores
  • Ultra-fast imaging for reduced photo-damage and bleaching using resonant scanning or Airyscan multiplexing
  • Multi-point time-lapse imaging
  • Full-microscope or sample enclosure for environmentally-controlled live-cell imaging
  • Various techniques for studying molecular dynamics and interactions, such as FRET, Anisotropy, FRAP, FLIP and FCS
  • Advice on sample preparation, fluorophore choice, image optimization, and microscope handling
  • Remote computational workstations for image processing using various software packages, such as ZEN, ImSpector, Imaris, FIJI, and more.

Contact

Dr. Richard Sanchez
Head of Light Microscopy
lmc@mpfi.org

For cleared tissue imaging, with 3 laser lines, dual-channel camera detection, and large-sample imaging chamber

Zeiss Lightsheet 7

For cleared tissue imaging, with 3 laser lines, dual-channel camera, detection, and large-sampling imaging chamber.

For synchronized in-vivo functional imaging and closed-loop optogenetic stimulation

Inscopix nVoke 2.0

For synchronized in-vivo functional imaging and closed-loop optogenetic stimulation.

4 excitation lasers @405nm, 485nm, 561nm & 640nm; 2 pulsed STED lasers @595nm & 775nm; Objective lenses: 10x/0.25 air, 40x/1.3 oil, 63x/1.2 water, 100x/1.4 oil)Easy3D STED depletion module; beam-scanner; motorized pinhole; 4 detection channels (APDs) between 425nm – 725nm; time-gated detection; single-photon counting; RESCue;

Abberior Instruments Expert-Line 3D-STED

4 excitation lasers @405nm, 485nm, 561nm & 640nm; 2 pulsed STED lasers @595nm & 775nm; objective lenses: 10x/0.25 air, 40x/1.3 oil, 63x/1.2 water, 100x/1.4 oil)Easy3D STED depletion module; beam-scanner; motorized pinhole; 4 detection channels (APDs) between 425nm – 725nm; time-gated detection; single-photon counting; RESCue.

LMC-14-1000x1000

Zeiss LSM 980 with Airyscan (upright)

In collaboration with ZEISS. Equipped for in-vivo, imaging 6 excitation laser lines, tunable multiphoton laser. 34-channel spectral detection, Airyscan 2 detection, and single-channel NDD detection.

7 excitation lasers @405nm, 458nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, 594nm, 639nm Objective lenses: 2.5x/0.085 air, 10x/0.3 air, 20x/0.8 air, 40x/1.2 water, 63x/1.4 oil Adjustable multicolor confocal detection using high-sensitivity GaAsP & multialkali PMTs, spectrally configurable between and 370nm—760nm Airyscan 1 detection module Motorized xy-stage for tiling Fast volumetric imaging with xy galvo beam-scanner & z-piezo stage Automatic focus-correction

Zeiss LSM 880 with Airyscan (inverted)

7 excitation lasers @405nm, 458nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, 594nm, 639nm. Objective lenses: 2.5x/0.085 air, 10x/0.3 air, 20x/0.8 air, 40x/1.2 water, 63x/1.4 oil. Adjustable multicolor confocal detection using high-sensitivity GaAsP & multialkali PMTs, spectrally configurable between and 370nm—760nm. Airyscan 1 detection module. Motorized xy-stage for tiling. Fast volumetric imaging with xy galvo beam-scanner & z-piezo stage. Automatic focus-correction

7 excitation lasers @405nm, 458nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, 594nm, 639nm Objective lenses: 10x/0.4 air, 20x/0.8 air, 25x/0.8 water/glycerol, 40x/1.3 oil, 63x/1.3 water/glycerol Adjustable multicolor confocal detection using high-sensitivity GaAsP & multialkali PMTs, spectrally configurable between and 370nm—760nm

Zeiss LSM 780 (upright)

7 excitation lasers @405nm, 458nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, 594nm, 639nm. Objective lenses: 10x/0.4 air, 20x/0.8 air, 25x/0.8 water/glycerol, 40x/1.3 oil, 63x/1.3 water/glycerol. Adjustable multicolor confocal detection using high-sensitivity GaAsP & multialkali PMTs, spectrally configurable between and 370nm—760nm.

6 excitation lasers @405nm, 458nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, 633nm Objective lenses: 10x/0.4 air, 20x/0.7 air, 40x/1.25 oil, 63x/0.9 water, 63x/1.4 oil 8kHz resonant-scanner Spectrally adjustable multicolor confocal detection using three hybrid- and two regular PMTs Motorized xy-stage for mosaic/tiling scans

Leica TCS SP5 II with resonant scanner (upright)

6 excitation lasers @405nm, 458nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, 633nm. Objective lenses: 10x/0.4 air, 20x/0.7 air, 40x/1.25 oil, 63x/0.9 water, 63x/1.4 oil. 8kHz resonant-scanner. Spectrally adjustable multicolor confocal detection using three hybrid- and two regular PMTs. Motorized xy-stage for mosaic/tiling scans.