Skip to content

Imaging

One of the challenges in biological imaging is to visualize biological structures and living organisms in three or four dimensions. CERT has a range of instruments and expertise to perform this type of analysis.

expertise

One of the challenges in biological imaging is to visualize biological structures and living organisms in three dimensions and in depth. CERT has the instruments and expertise to perform this type of analysis.

TA-segmentation2: 3-dimensional reconstructions of the whole inguinal adipose tissue of mice.

SPIM

A new microscope based on a light sheet excitation, the SPIM (Selective Plane Illumination Microscope),  allows rapid optical sectioning in 3D and in depth on living samples and offers multi-views acquisition opening new perspectives in biological observation. This unique equipment is now available to the entire scientific community

MacroSPIM

The MacroSPIM, a macroscope based on a light sheet excitation, makes it possible after optical clearing to visualize tissues and whole organs by rapid in depth 3D optical sectioning. This novel approach offers multi-view acquisition possibilities and opens up new perspectives in biological observation. This unique equipment, based on developments carried out in Barcelona (IRB), is now made available to the entire scientific community by CERT.

Confocal biphotonique

Finally, CERT is also equipped with a biphotonic confocal microscope.   The use of an infrared laser for the excitation using higher wavelengths than in conventional fluorescence microscopy allows to penetrate more deeply into living samples and thus allows 3D and deep acquisitions.

Example videos made with these instruments

Spectral imaging coupled with linear unmixing is the technique of choice for detecting and differentiating fluorophores in a biological sample, even in situations where spectral overlap exists. Autofluorescence can also be treated as a separate fluorophore to resolve from the signal of interest.

imagerie spectrale1_acquisition spectrale 6 couleurs pour site web cert bis
imagerie spectrale 3_autofluo en spectral
imagerie spectral 4_ génération de seconde harmonique (SHG) image seule
imagerie spectrale 2__séparation des spectres qui se chevauchent (image1)

Confocal microscopy

CERT has a confocal bi-photonic AxioExaminer microscope (LSM 880 Zeiss) equipped with a pulsed Ti/Sa (Chohérent) laser (NLO) and 3 visible lasers. 

Using the QUASAR technology, this microscope offers the great advantage of simultaneous spectral detection in a single scan. It is possible, in a single acquisition, without loss of time and without space-time shift, to acquire and perfectly separate more than 4 fluorochromes whose spectra overlap.

  • This technology also makes it possible to eliminate autofluorescence signal generated by tissues.
  • The NLO system also gives access to the second harmonic generation (SHG) signal, thus allowing to reveal the organization of collagen fibers of the extracellular matrix or the striations of skeletal muscles without labelling.
  • This equipment also allows to perform 3D and 4D imaging in vivo in small animals.

This technology makes it possible to follow living organisms over time with cellular resolution.

Videomicroscopes, Biphotons, SPIM

Real-time microscopy consists of imaging living samples over time with cellular resolution while maintaining temperature and respiratory conditions compatible with the survival of the samples. Samples can be cell cultures or whole organisms (mice, fish, drosophila), including tissue explants and spheroids.

We propose a variety of equipment : videomicroscopes, Biphotons, SPIM, that are all capable of Real-Time imaging. These equipments are coupled with specific modules that control the survival parameters of the samples (thermostatic chambers, CO2, anesthesia, respiratory and small animal monitoring systems).

CONTACT

Plus...
Corinne barreau 3

Corinne Barreau

Engineer
laetitia.pieruccioni

Laetitia Pieruccioni

Engineer

The platform engineers evaluate the user's request and propose the most suitable solution for his needs by :

  • providing advice in the development of multi-color panels,
  • ensuring the training of users,
  • assisting users in the analysis and interpretation of their results,
  • assisting users in the implementation of research and development projects, in the form of collaboration.
Equipements
CONTACT