Spinning Disc Confocal Microscopy
Our laboratory hosts two advanced Spinning Disk Confocal Microscopy setups, tailored to the demands of live-cell imaging and automated cell studies. Both systems leverage the capabilities of spinning disk technology to acquire fast, confocal images with high axial resolution, offering detailed insights into dynamic cellular processes.
System 1: Custom-Built Spinning Disk System
The first setup is a custom-built spinning disk microscope based on an inverted microscope body. This versatile system is optimized for high-speed live-cell imaging and dynamic studies, featuring:
- Eight excitation wavelengths (405 nm, 445 nm, 488 nm, 514 nm, 561 nm, 594 nm, 642 nm, 685 nm) to support multi-color experiments.
- Three detection channels for simultaneous multicolor imaging.
- Yokogawa CSU-10 spinning disk unit enabling fast and efficient confocal imaging.
- High-speed z-piezo control for acquiring full 3D image stacks.
- Andor iXon EMCCD cameras for sensitive fluorescence detection.
- A Custom-built control system for precise synchronization and high-throughput data acquisition.
This system is ideal for investigating intracellular dynamics such as mRNA transport, chromosome separation, and particle uptake in living cells.
System 2: High-End Commercial Zeiss Spinning Disk System
The second system is a cutting-edge commercial spinning disk microscope, specifically designed for automated and large-scale cell imaging. Key features include:
- Three detection channels, enabling simultaneous imaging of multiple fluorescence signals.
- Integrated PECON incubation chamber, maintaining optimal conditions for live-cell imaging (37°C and 5% CO₂).
- Automated z-stacking and time-lapse imaging, ensuring comprehensive and reproducible datasets.
- Yokogawa CSU-X1 spinning disk unit enabling fast and efficient confocal imaging.
- Two Photometrics Evolve 512 Delta EM-CCD cameras, for sensitive fluorescence detection.
- High-precision hardware for studying cellular dynamics, viral interactions, and long-term biological processes.
- User-friendly software interface, allowing seamless control of complex experimental protocols.
This system is particularly suited for automated studies, such as high-throughput viral tracking, live-cell imaging, and dynamic cell behavior analysis.
Latest applications
Together, these spinning disk setups serve as workhorses in our lab, enabling applications such as:
- High-speed imaging of dynamic cellular processes in live cells.
- Multi-dimensional imaging with z-stacking and time-series analysis.
- Viral particle tracking and intracellular dynamics studies.
- Long-term live-cell imaging under controlled environmental conditions.