Specialized Microscopy Systems at BIC
The BIC facility has several specialized microscopy systems that are optimized for various applications.
Miltenyi Biotec UltraMicroscope Blaze Light-Sheet System
The UltraMicroscope Blaze™ from Miltenyi Biotec is designed for high-resolution imaging of cleared samples, ranging from small specimens such as organoids to large-scale tissues including whole mouse, rat, and guinea pig brains. This system is optimized for organic solvent-based clearing methods, such as 3DISCO, iDISCO+, and ECi.
Specifications
- Laser Light Source: SuperK Fianium white light laser FIU-15 (NKT Photonics).
- Six fluorescent channels with excitation/emission filters:
- ex. 740/40, em.780LP
- ex. 645/30, em. 700/50
- ex. 572/35, em. 625/30
- ex. 555/20 , em. 595/44
- ex. 482/28 , em. 525/20
- ex. 405/40, em. 460/50
- Objectives: 1.1x (NA =0.1, WD=17 mm); 4x (NA =0.35, WD=16 mm); 12x (NA =0.53, WD= 10.9 mm) with post-magnification adjustment 0.6x, 1.0x, 1.6x and 2.5x)
- Software: ImSpector (Microscope operation software) and MACS-iQ software for stitching, denoising, destriping, and deconvolution
- Key Features:
- Multi-color autofocusing
- Fast tile scanning
- Dynamic horizontal focus
- Light speed mode (continuous acquisition mode)
- Deconvolution
Vizgen MERSCOPE Spatial transcriptomics
MERSCOPE from Vizgen is a specialized imaging system designed for spatial transcriptomics imaging, driven by MERFISH (Multiplexed Error-Robust Fluorescence in situ Hybridization) technology. MERFISH technology is built upon an RNA imaging-based technique called single molecule FISH and combinatorial barcoding scheme. This technique identifies nucleic acids in their native tissue environment with sub-cellular resolution.
To utilize MERSCOPE, you apply a gene panel on your sample, choosing from pre-designed or custom panels for 140, 300, 500 or 1000 genes, depending on your research needs, follow 3-4 days hybridization protocol and then image the sample in the instrument using 60x oil objective. Compatible tissue is fresh or fixed frozen sections, cell cultures, and FFPE samples. Please note that the sample must be mounted on Vizgen slides, the sections mounted on common slide glass are not compatible.
BIC provides protocols for sample preparations and training on the instrument usage with a mock sample. Slides, sample verification or imaging kits and gene panels for the experiment are ordered directly from Vizgene by the researches.
For all questions, please contact bic@ki.se.
Miltenyi Biotec MACSima high-plex protein imaging
MACSima™ from Miltenyi Biotec is a specialized automated imaging system for high‑plex spatial biology, based on MACSima Imaging Cyclic Staining (MICS) technology. MICS is a cyclic immunofluorescence approach that enables high‑plex detection of tens to hundreds of protein markers, and optionally RNA targets, within the same tissue section at single‑cell resolution. The workflow consists of automated cycles of staining and imaging, with fluorescence signals removed between cycles by photobleaching or controlled fluorophore release, depending on the antibody chemistry. The system uses widefield epifluorescence optics, acquiring low‑magnification overviews at 2x and high‑resolution images at 20x using either a long‑working‑distance objective (20x/NA 0.45) or a high‑NA objective (20x/NA 0.75).
MACSima uses special MACSwell™ sample carriers for cyclic staining; these carriers can accommodate either standard glass slides or MACSwell HighRes slides.
MACSima technology supports formalin‑fixed paraffin‑embedded (FFPE) tissues, fixed frozen sections, and fixed cell samples. Researchers may use Miltenyi Biotec pre‑designed or pre‑validated antibody panels or their own antibodies following appropriate validation. Please contact bic@ki.se for the details on access and experimental planning.