Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
Maldonado, Maricela; Confocal Microscope Project Summary/Abstract The acquisition of an Echo Confocal Microscope will provide a powerful tool for acquiring high resolution three-dimensional (3D) immunofluorescence images for biological/biomedical applications within California State University, Long Beach. Although conventional widefield microscopes enable high resolution imaging of thin samples, the proper 3D reconstruction of thicker samples, such as cell- embedded hydrogels or tissues, can only be completed by blocking out-of-focus light with a confocal microscope. With an increasing demand in imaging of 3D structures, cells, and tissues for biomedical research applications, an instrument capable of creating optical sections for 3D reconstruction is essential. Faculty members in the biomedical engineering department currently have projects involving the development of 3D biomaterials, microfluidics, and pancreas tissue/organoid development, which would all greatly benefit from a confocal microscope for the visualization of 3D structures. In addition, the Echo confocal is equipped with live imaging capabilities and reduces photobleaching by utilizing spinning disk technology making data acquisition faster than traditional laser scanning confocal. The long-term objective is to place the confocal microscope in a shared resource core microscopy/imaging facility where faculty and students will be able to bring their samples to produce high quality 2D and 3D images. Support of this core facility will enable/augment cross-discipline collaborative research within CSULB. The user-friendly interface of the Echo Confocal Microscope will also accelerate the number of faculty and students that can be trained for their research and/or educational projects. In addition, by housing the confocal microscope adjacent to a classroom space the instrument will be readily accessible for course laboratories and further provide additional hands-on-learning opportunities for students.
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