Bioimaging Core

Live Cell Imaging

Bioptechs FCS3 Cell Culture and Perfusion System

  • System Type: Closed, parallel-plate flow chamber for live-cell imaging on upright microscopes

  • Optical Design: High–numerical aperture–compatible microaqueduct flow cell supporting all microscopy modalities (brightfield, fluorescence, confocal, multiphoton)

  • Perfusion System:

    • Continuous media perfusion with precise, directed flow over cells

    • Adjustable flow profiles (laminar to high shear) via interchangeable gasket geometry

  • Temperature Control:

    • Uniform temperature regulation across the imaging field

    • Typical range: ambient to ~50 °C with high precision (~±0.1 °C)

  • Flow Chamber Geometry:

    • User-definable optical cavity (volume, height, and flow path)

    • Adjustable separation between optical surfaces (~50–1000 µm)

  • Specimen Format: Cells cultured on 40 mm glass coverslips integrated into a sealed perfusion chamber

  • Fluidics:

    • Rapid media exchange (up to ~1 volume/sec)

    • Compatible with standard tubing and peristaltic pump systems

  • Environmental Control: Closed system supports use of CO₂-dependent media and minimizes evaporation

  • Imaging Compatibility: Maintains Köhler illumination and optical alignment during perfusion imaging

  • Ease of Use: Tool-free assembly with modular components for rapid reconfiguration

  • Applications:

    • Live-cell imaging under controlled flow conditions

    • Pharmacological perturbation and media exchange experiments

    • Shear stress and mechanobiology studies

    • Long-term time-lapse imaging with stable environmental conditions

ibidi Stage Top Incubator – Live Cell Environmental Control System

  • System Type: Stage-top incubation system for live-cell imaging on inverted microscopes

  • Environmental Control:

    • Precise, feedback-controlled regulation of temperature, CO₂, O₂, and humidity

    • Maintains physiological conditions equivalent to standard tissue culture incubators

  • Temperature Control:

    • Uniform heating across sample (dish, slide, or multiwell plate)

    • Typical range: ~ambient +5 °C to ~50 °C with high stability (≈±0.2 °C)

  • Humidity Regulation:

    • Active, feedback-controlled humidity system (typically ~90–95% RH) to minimize evaporation

    • Rapid response to environmental fluctuations, preventing condensation

  • Gas Control:

    • Integrated gas mixer for controlled CO₂ (and optional O₂) delivery

    • Supports hypoxia and specialized culture conditions

  • Optical Stability:

    • Designed for high focus and XY stability, minimizing drift during long-term imaging

    • No condensation on optical surfaces (heated lid design)

  • Sample Compatibility:

    • Supports a range of formats including 35 mm dishes, ibidi µ-Slides, and multiwell plates

  • Microscope Compatibility:

    • Compatible with standard inverted microscope stages (e.g., IX81 platform)

    • Easy installation with modular heating and gas control units

  • System Components:

    • Heating unit (stage + lid)

    • Gas incubation system and mixer

    • Humidity control module and environmental sensors

  • Applications:

    • Long-term live-cell imaging under physiological conditions

    • Cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation assays

    • Hypoxia and gas-controlled experiments

    • High-content imaging in multiwell plate formats