Confocal Microscopy Platform

Prior training is required, so please contact us if you wish to use the platform.

Researchers from SLU and other institutions are welcome to use the facilities.

If you are unsure which equipment fits your needs better, please contact any platform administrators:

Frauke Augstein (Leica Stellaris 5)

Alejandro Fonseca Cardenas (Nikon)

Booking

Nikon AxR or Stellaris 5  (250 SEK/hour)

Select Nikon AxR or Stellaris 5 in the menu. For the booking of the Nikon AxR select whether you are going to use the NIR laser.

Systems

Nikon AX-R Multiphoton with NSPARC (Inverted)

Located in B422a

• Laser Unit: LUA-S6 with 405, 445, 488, 514, 561, and 640 nm lasers for single-photon excitation.
• Multiphoton Laser: Spectra-Physics MaiTai DeepSee IR laser (690–1040 nm) for two-photon excitation.
• Scanners:
  • 2k x 2k resonant scanner (30 fps at 2048 x 512 pixels) for high-speed imaging.
  • 8k x 8k high-resolution Galvano scanner for ultra-large field of view (Ø22 mm).
• Detectors:

• DUX-VB4 Spectral Detector (Single point confocal, descanned):
  • Two GaAsP spectral detectors with spectral linear variable filters.
  • Two high-sensitivity PMTs with motorized bandpass filter wheels (total of 12 filters).
  • AX-NEI Non-Descanned Detector (Multiphoton Mode): Two GaAsP detectors for high-efficiency multiphoton fluorescence detection.
  • NSPARC Super-Resolution Detector: Enhances signal-to-noise ratio and improves resolution beyond diffraction limits.

• Objectives:

• 4x dry (0.20 NA, 20.0 mm WD, 405–850 nm chromatic correction).
• 20x dry (0.80 NA, 0.80 mm WD, 405–850 nm chromatic correction).
• 40x silicone immersion (1.25 NA, 0.30 mm WD, 405–680 nm chromatic correction).

• Microscope Platform: Fully motorized Ti2-E inverted microscope with Hardware auto-focus.
• Fluorescent channels: DAPI, FITC, TRITC, and Cy5 filters.
• Software: NIS-Elements C.

Leica Stellaris 5 (Upright)

Located in B422b

• Laser Unit: Six laser excitation lines: 405 nm, 448 nm, 488 nm, 514 nm, 561 nm, and 638 nm.
• Scanners: Spectral scanning system
• Detectors:
  • Leica Power HyD S Detectors: Three ultra-sensitive photon-counting detectors.
    • Photon detection efficiency of at least 50% at 500 nm.
    • Spectral detection across 410–850 nm with 1 nm adjustable bandwidth precision.

• Objectives:
  • 10x Plan Apochromatic Air: NA ≥ 0.4; working distance ≥ 2.5 mm.
  • 20x Plan Apochromatic Air: NA ≥ 0.75; working distance ≥ 0.6 mm.
  • 20x Plan Apochromatic Multi-Immersion: NA ≥ 0.75; working distance up to 0.65 mm; Glycerol immersion.
  • 25x FLUOTAR Water Immersion ‘Dip-In’: NA ≥ 0.95; working distance ≥ 2.5 mm.
  • 40x Plan Apochromatic Glycerol Immersion: NA ≥ 1.25; working distance ≥ 0.35 mm; correction collar for cover glass thicknesses (0.14–0.19 mm).
  • 63x Plan Apochromatic Water Immersion: NA ≥ 1.20; working distance ≥ 0.30 mm; correction collar for cover glass thicknesses (0.14–0.18 mm).
• Microscope Platform: Fully motorized upright system.
• Fluorescence filters: DAPI, FITC, TRITC filters
• Software: Leica LAS X.

Software

The software for the Leica Stellaris 5 can be downloaded to your PC here (unfortunately not available for Mac)

How to Use:

   Graphics Platform

   Zeiss LSM 780

   Zeiss LSM 800