Beethoven: AXR Confocal, NSPARC Super Resolution

Summary

Nikon’s newest point scanning confocal offering an industry leading 25mm field of view, hybrid spectral and filter-based detection, up to 8K resolution gal scanning and 2K high speed resonant scanning with 405/488/561/640 excitation. Additional NSPARC detector enables super-resolution imaging down to 100nm at live-cell compatible speeds, and sensitivity that is nearly 2x any other point scanning confocal instrument for best possible detection of challenging samples. Also offers incubation and fast Z-sectioning capabilities (piezo).

Imaging modalities

• Laser scanning confocal – Galvano and Resonant scanner
• Spectral imaging
• Bright field and DIC

Applications

• Immunofluorescence samples. Imaging entire slides is easy and straightforward using tiling and stitching functions in the NIS-Elements software. You can control the orientation of the Galvo scanner and thereby control the orientation of your sample within the image.
• Live cell imaging. The stage top incubation chamber regulates temperature (25 – 50 ⁰C), CO₂ and humidity. The resonant scanner is ideal to image fast moving processes with bright fluorophores.
• FRAP and stimulation experiments. You can image with the resonant scanner and use the Galvo scanner to simultaneously stimulate, activate or convert with the 405 nm laser simultaneous. Or you can bleach, activate or stimulate with the 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm or 640 nm laser and image sequentially using only the Galvo scanner. The stimulation function is integrated in the NIS elements software. Cells can be immediately analyzed after or even during the acquisition with the time measurement tool.
• Spectral imaging. The spectral range is 400 – 750 nm with a bandwidth of 5,10, 20, 40nm with a range of 9-70 channels depending on bandwidth.
• Filter / ratiometric FRET. Filter FRET using blue, green, red and far red fluorescent dyes or fluorescent proteins can be performed. You could measure a FRET change of a cytosolic FRET sensor and acquire multiple cells in one field of view at low magnification or you could measure at high magnification thereby observe a FRET change at a specific subcellular localization.
• Spectral FRET. Similar as filter / ratiometric FRET, but with more freedom of different colors of fluorescent probes, since you can measure the entire spectrum from 400 – 750 nm with a bandwidth of 5, 10, 20, 40nm
• Image ‘exotic’ and large Stokes shift fluorophores. The tunable emission width in combination with 405, 488, 561 or 640 nm lasers provide many acquisition options for a wide variety of fluorophores.

Technical description

Location

Leichtag building, Room 470