Live Cell Imaging
Keeping cells viable is crucial for obtaining artifact-free data in long-term imaging. Control and maintenance of temperature, pH and humidity as well as low light stress and stage stability are prerequisites for successful experiments.
Shifting perspective from single microscope components to a full working live cell imaging solution, Leica Microsystems integrates microscope, LAS X imaging software, cameras, and dedicated third-party components into a complete live cell imaging system.
Our experts on solutions for live cell imaging applications are happy to help you with their advice.
Live cell imaging Products 14
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THUNDER Imager Model Organism
The THUNDER Imager Model Organism allows fast and easy 3D exploration of whole organisms for developmental or molecular biology research.
THUNDER Imager 3D Live Cell & 3D Cell Culture & 3D Assay
THUNDER Imagers provide you with a solution for advanced 3D cell culture assays, whether you want to study stem cells, spheroids, or organoids.
THUNDER Imager Tissue
The THUNDER Imager Tissue allows real-time fluorescence imaging of 3D tissue sections typically used in neuroscience and histology research.
SP8 LIGHTNING
Super-resolution live cell imaging in multicolor
SP8 FALCON
The contrast is clear. Lifetime imaging in an instant
PAULA
Smart Cell Imager
LIGHTNING
The maximum of information from each specimen
LAS X Life Science
Software platform for life science applications
DMi8 S Platform
For routine to live cell research
Infinity TIRF
Multicolor advanced TIRF module
Leica DFC365 FX
1.4 MP cooled monochrome camera for standard live cell imaging of GFP-expressing cells and tissues
Leica DMi1
Entry level inverted microscope
Leica DM IL LED
Inverted Laboratory Microscope with LED Illumination
Live Cell Imaging System
Inverted Microscope Platform Leica DMi8
A shift of perspective from microscope components to a live cell imaging system dedicated to your applications.
Keep your cells alive using environmental components such as the new INCUBATORi8.
- Fully motorized Leica DMi8
- Leica Adaptive Focus Control (AFC)
- Infinity Port (Additional incident illumination port)
- Lumencor SpectraX (multi-LED light source)
- External fast filter wheels
- INCUBATORi8 (Environmental chamber)
- Leica DFC9000 (sCMOS camera)
- Leica Application Suite X (Software) with Enviromental control and advanced analysis modules
Impressive focus accuracy
Do you need a fast software auto-focus, but also highly accurate positioning to follow small structures like vesicles over time? Or do you need high resolution three-dimensional images of large data sets?
Accurate 3D imaging
In both cases, standard microscope focus drives do not work with sufficient accuracy to obtain meaningful data at high resolution.
Rather than using a step motor, the Closed Loop Focus drive measures and positions with 20 nm reproducibility over an increased travel range of 12 mm. With this level of precision, 3D imaging is more accurate than ever before.
Stay in focus
During long term imaging, cells and their environment often change. To ensure that your cells stay in focus Leica offers two automated systems: the hardware based Adaptive Focus Control (AFC) and the image- based High Speed Autofocus.
AFC keeps the focus stable
- The AFC actively keeps the focus stable even after changing environmental conditions.
- The image-based High Speed Autofocus uses independent camera and illumination settings to find the focal plane with a low amount of light on the sample.
- Combine AFC with High-Speed Autofocus to actively refocus, lower focus time and minimize phototoxicity.
Software for live cell imaging
Leica Application Suite X (LAS X) is the imaging and analysis software for live cell imaging from basic documentation to advanced fluorescence imaging, including super-resolution and confocal microscopy.
LAS X Software
Learning to use LAS X software for all of your applications is straightforward. Utilizing a workflow-based structure, the software is built to get you up and running quickly.
When it comes to data analysis, LAS X has you covered with wizard-based automated 2D and 3D image analysis. From simple documentation to complex analyses in multiple dimensions, this software is up to the challenge with comprehensive solutions for your research.
Create the right environment
Users expect more from their inverted microscopes when it comes to live cell experiments. A complete system optimized for long term imaging relies on optimal measurement conditions and reproducible results.
Beside keeping cells in the optimal conditions, microscope components such as stages, specimen holders and optics are key factors for the success of live cell experiments. With a thoughtfully integrated system from Leica, your imaging experiment will result in meaningful, reproducible data, ready for publication.
With the Environmental Control module in LAS X, all environmental control parameter are combined in one user-interface, making it easy to control and monitor conditions throughout your experiment.
High-speed fluorescence
High-speed live cell experiments require a seamlessly integrated system composed of sophisticated software control, fast fluorescence and sensitive cameras that work together to deliver the highest quality imaging results.
With the DFC9000 sCMOS camera, you get not only the cutting-edge in camera technology, but also a perfect match to maximize the imaging potential of the DMi8.
TIRF
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence
For dynamic processes at the cell surface, TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence) microscopy is the method of choice to visualize cellular events with minimal fluorescent interference from out-of-focus light.
With the Leica DMi8 TIRF system, you can observe samples with outstanding clarity, control, and confidence.
Standard imaging port matches 19 mm diagonal of DFC9000 sensor. See 41% more at a glance and be 30% faster during tile scans.
External Filter Wheel
Leica Microsystems’ External Filter Wheels for living cell applications are fast, vibration-free, and exceptionally versatile. Use the fast filter wheels for excitation, attenuation and emission control to capture cellular events at the speed of life.
Excitation and emission light can be selected in just 24 milliseconds (acquisition speed: 31 fps), and individual excitation colors can be attenuated just as quickly.
Outstanding image quality
The best image quality combines superior optics with intelligent innovations for live cell research.
Simplify adaption to your sample’s refractive index with an objective with motorized correction collar. During long term imaging, the Water Immersion Microdispenser counteracts water evaporation when as an immersion medium. Or choose an objective dedicated to live cell imaging at 37°C, like the 63x glycerol objective. Maintain the sharpest images with ease.
Innovative accessories like the MotCorr objectives ensure that the objective matches the refractive index of your sample.
How to do a Proper Cell Culture Quick Check
In order to successfully work with mammalian cell lines, they must be grown under controlled conditions and require their own specific growth medium. In addition, to guarantee consistency their growth…Read article
Handbook of Optical Filters for Fluorescence Microscopy
Fluorescence microscopy and other light-based applications require optical filters that have demanding spectral and physical characteristics. Often, these characteristics are application-specific and…Read article
Widefield Calcium Imaging with Calcium Indicator Fura2
In eukaryotic cells Ca2+ is one of the most widespread second messengers used in signal transduction pathways. Intracellular levels of Ca2+ are usually kept low, as Ca2+ often forms insoluble…Read article
Label-free FLIM
Many biological samples exhibit autofluorescence. Its often broad spectra can interfere with fluorescent labeling strategies. This application letter demonstrates how autofluorescence can serve as an…Read article
FRET with FLIM
FLIM combines lifetime measurements with imaging: lifetimes obtained for each image pixel are color-coded to produce additional image contrast. Thus, FLIM delivers information about the spatial…Read article
Image Processing for Widefield Microscopy
Fluorescence microscopy is a modern and steadily evolving tool to bring light to current cell biological questions. With the help of fluorescent proteins or dyes it is possible to make discrete…Read article
Introduction to Live-Cell Imaging
The understanding of complex and fast cellular dynamics is an important step to get insight into biological processes. Therefore, today’s life science research more and more demands studying…Read article
Applications of TIRF Microscopy in Life Science Research
The special feature of TIRF microscopy is the employment of an evanescent field for fluorophore excitation. Unlike standard widefield fluorescence illumination procedures with arc lamps, LEDs or…Read article
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy
Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) is a special technique in fluorescence microscopy developed by Daniel Axelrod at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in the early 1980s. TIRF microscopy…Read article
Live-cell Imaging Techniques
The understanding of complex and/or fast cellular dynamics is an important step for exploring biological processes. Therefore, today’s life science research is increasingly focusing on dynamic…Read article
Differential Interference Contrast
The examination of live unstained biological specimens often suffers from poor contrast and therefore bad visibility of the specimen. Thick specimens in particular, such as brain slices, show up as…Read article
Ratiometric Imaging
Many fundamental functions of a cell strongly depend on delicate, but nevertheless dynamic balances of ions (e.g. calcium, magnesium), voltage potentials and pH between the cell’s cytosol and the…Read article
The Patch-Clamp Technique
Especially in neuroscience, the physiology of ion channels has always been a major topic of interest. The development of the patch-clamp technique in the late 1970s has given electrophysiologists new…Read article
Step by Step Guide to Hybrid Detection and Photon Counting
This tutorial explains the underlying hybrid detection technology and compares it to photomultiplier technology. The implications of hybrid detection design for imaging and photon counting are…Read article
Useful Links
Communities and Web Sources
www.researchgate.net/Social network for scientists
www.ibiology.org/Teaching tools, video lectures on biology and microscopy
bitesizebio.comOnline magazine and community for molecular and cell biology researchers
www.somersault1824.comResource for high-end scientific illustrations, images and animations
Search Engines and Data Bases
www.cellimagelibrary.orgPublic resource database of images, videos, and animations of cells
harvester.fzk.de/harvesterBioinformatic meta search engine for genes and proteins
www.gopubmed.comSearch interface for pubmed
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_academic_databases_and_search_enginesList of academic databases and search engines
scholar.google.comBeta of Google's search engine for scientific article abstracts
Journals
www.doaj.org/Directory of open access journals
emboj.embopress.org/The EMBO Journal
www.lifescied.orgCBE-Life Sciences Education – an ASCB online journal
www.sciencemag.org/Science
www.nature.com/Nature
www.cell.com/Biweekly publication of exceptional research articles
jcs.biologists.org/Journal of Cell Science
dev.biologists.org/Development
jeb.biologists.org/The Journal of Experimental Biology
dmm.biologists.org/DMM Disease Models & Mechanisms
www.biotechniques.com/International Journal of Life Science Methods
www.opticsinfobase.org/Collection of Journals and Proceedings in Optics and Photonics
spie.org/x576.xmlSPIE - peer-reviewed journals on applied research in optics and photonics
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1864-0648Journal of Biophotonics
www.plosone.org/home.actionInternational, peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication
rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/Proceedings B - the Royal Society's biological research journal
www.microscopy-analysis.com/International Journal for microscopists
Organizations
www.microscopy.org/Microscopy Society of America
www.eurmicsoc.org/European Microscopy Society
www.rms.org.uk/Royal Microscopical Society
www.ascb.org/ASCB American Society of Cell Biology
www.biologists.com/cob_activities.htmlthe company of biologists
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