Search the CONFOCAL archive at
http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

G'day Sahlin,
 
Along similar lines to the Opticell that you have already mentioned you should also consider trying  "BioFolie25".
 
www.ivss.de/en/Products/Culture_Systems/bioFOLIE_25___petriPERM/body_biofolie_25___petriperm.html
This will also allow CO2 and O2 to perfuse through the film. Importantly the Refractive Index of this film is close to water at:
 
1.35 . So the film should be suitable for use with dipping lenses. It can be heat welded into bags which should suit your requirements of both upright and inverted microscopy.
 
I've never tried this product, so I would be interested in peoples comments (if any).
 
In answer to your question: The RI of the product you mention Opticell is 1.6 and so should not be too bad when used with either an oil lens (if you want to image very close to the membrane) or you may be able to use a water lens with correction collar, the slightly higher RI than glass will to some extent offset the thin membrane. I would recommend you use a trial and error approach, trying various collar settings and refocusing the microscope, while examining the sharpness of the image by eye using widefield fluorescence microscopy. With any luck the spherical aberration correction you require may be within the range of your collar. If not, you may find that the image quality, if not ideal, is adequate for your research goals
 
No commercial affiliation with makers of BioFolie.
 
 
Stephen H. Cody
Microscopy Manager
Central Resource for Advanced Microscopy
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
PO Box 2008 Royal Melbourne Hospital
Parkville, Victoria,      3050
Australia
Tel: 61 3 9341 3155    Fax: 61 3 9341 3104
email: [log in to unmask]
www.ludwig.edu.au/labs/confocal.html
www.ludwig.edu.au/confocal

Tip: Learn how to receive reminders about you microscope booking:
http://www.ludwig.edu.au/confocal/Local/Booking_Hint.htm Type your signature here

________________________________

From: Confocal Microscopy List on behalf of Shalin Mehta
Sent: Mon 16/07/2007 4:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Culture vessels for live cell confocal microscopy


Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal 
Dear List,
 
After a month or so, I will need to use upright and inverted confocals with different capabilities located 1 hour bus journey apart. 
I have been searching for culture vessel that allows live cell microscopy with following features (decreasing order of preference). 
1. Can be used with both inverted and upright microscopes for live cell imaging
2. multiple chambers for multiplexing measurements 
3. ease of transportation.
 
I tried samples from this:
1. Nunc -- Lab-tek chambered slides - For fixed samples, it works nicely but for live cells the thick bottom of slide won't work with objectives on inverted microscope. It cannot be turned upside down to view adherent cells under upright microscope. Not easy to transport. 
2. ibidi -- u-slide 6 - Works with inverted scope because bottom is coverslip-like. Can be turned upside down (for using with upright) when wells of all channels are sealed. But then condenser cannot come close enough because slide is resting on wells and hence cannot get good illumination required for taking reference images. Relatively easy to transport live cells. 
3. Nunc -- Opticell - (Yet to try) appears to work with both upright and inverted scope. Comes with special transportation envelope. Its memberanes are 75 micron thick (less than half the coverslip thickness), so I am concerned about errors due to wrong coverslip thickness. Lacks multiple chambers and requires large volume of reagents. 
 
Please share your suggestions on modifying one of this or using another product?
 
 
Regards
Thanks
Shalin
 
 

-- 
My co-ordinates:
Shalin Mehta, Graduate student
Graduate Programme in Bioengineering, NUS, Singapore
Email: shalin {dot} mehta {at} gmail {dot} com
Blog: electricsbm.blogspot.com <http://electricsbm.blogspot.com/> 
Mobile: +65 90694182