Sample Preparation 3D Cell Explorer Version 1.1 July 2015 Sabine Bautz
Contents 1. Important points to keep in mind for the sample preparation 3 2. Sample preparation specifications and data sheet 4 3. Sample Preparation Preperation Protocol 5 3.1 Accessories 5 Coverslips and recommended dishes 5 Top-stage incubators 5 3.2 Preparation Protocols 6 Mounting Medium 6 Confluency 6 3.2 Preparation Protocols 7 On coverslip - fixed cells 7 3.2 Preparation Protocols 8 On ibidi FluoroDish µ-dish 35 Live Live or fixed or fixed cells cells 8 3.2 Cleanness of sample 9
1. Important points to keep in mind for the sample preparation 1. Cells should need to be seeded on a coverslip-thin glass surface bottom as thick as we a coverslip suggest the we ibidi suggest µ-dish either 35 mm. a Fluorodish (glass bottom culture dish) or in a coverslip on a glass slide. 2. The instrument is suitable for any kind of mammalian or bacterial cells. Thin slices of tissues can also be observed. 3. There are no limitations in the cell confluency. Cells grown in monolayer can be observed unless it exceeds the maximum thickness of cell structure (see specifications 1). 4. Optically clear medium (i.e. transparent live cell imaging solution, PBS) are preferred. Please be aware of the maximum mounting medium depth (see specifications 1). Slightly scattering solutions (like red phenol) can be used. 5. The optical surfaces must be as clean as possible and cell holders should be carefully cleaned as to avoid that any kind of debris or remains are floating in the mounting medium. 6. For sealing the medium chamber, tape imaging spacer are preferred to nail polish in order to avoid overflow from the coverslips. 3
2. Sample preparation specifications and data sheet Conditions Specification Cell Explorer (mid 2015) Comments Coverslip thickness 170 +/- 20um Glass bottom culture dishes 35 mm Size mammalian / bacterial cells between ~1 and 25 µm Max. thickness of cell structure 30 µm Max. mounting medium depth 5 mm Depending on optical properties Max. depth when using scattering medium 2 mm List of tested media: red phenol AGAR 4
3. Sample Preperation Preparation Protocol The 3D Cell Explorer allows measuring the inside a of living a living cell cell offering the the researcher the the possibility to to acquire high high resolution 3D 3D images of a of cell a within cell within seconds: seconds: - cells fixed fixed cells on glass coverslips or FluoroDish - living cells grown cells on FluoroDish Thanks to extremely low light exposure and compatibility with cell culture accessories (see section 2.1), the 3D Cell Explorer is suitable for longterm live cell imaging. We have designed this protocol to guide researchers through the sample preparation methods for observation. NB: All protocols discussed in this guide serve as a starting point to establish and perfect your own protocols. 3.1 Accessories Coverslips and recommended dishes Imaging with the 3D Cell Explorer requires clean optical conditions throughout the whole optical system, which comprises the microscope and the sample. This means that cleanness of samples is crucial for optimal imaging results. The observation can be made either through through various glass ibidi bottom µ-dishes culture or µ-slides dishes (e.g., (FluoroDishes µ-dish 35 mm, WPI, high or #FD35-100) µ-slide I Luer). or coverslips (best standard & practice for microscope objectives). Should you wish to use any other kind of sample conditions (e.g. multi-well plates, lids, etc.), please contact Nanolive s client service for more information. Top-stage incubators The 3D Cell Explorer is suitable for long-term live cell imaging with top-stage incubators (e.g., the Nanolive-ibidi Heating & Gas Incubation System). Top-stage incubators The 3D Cell Explorer is suitable for long-term live cell imaging with top-stage incubators (recommended models will be available on our web store soon). 5
3.2 Preparation Protocols Mounting Medium As a general requirement for any type of sample and in order to have a high quality image the buffering medium should be optically clear, (i.e. no optical scattering of the laser beam). Best are clear liquids like PBS, HEPES or live cell imaging solution specially developed for live cell imaging applications. However, solutions with red phenol showed to be suitable for the image acquisition when a minimum amount of liquid is used to fully cover the bottom of the dish. Figure 1 shows the way cells are to be observed in a dish plate sample. buffering medium buffering medium Figure 1: Amount of mounting mediums in in ibidi FluoroDishes µ-dish 35 mm Confluency No limitations in the cell confluency are given. Cells grown in monolayer can be observed unless the maximum thickness of cell structure is exceeded. Thin slices of tissues can also be observed. 6
3.2 Preparation Protocols On coverslip - fixed cells Figure 2 shows the way the glass plate sample is observed in the 3D Cell Explorer. Figure 2. Schematic of observation of cells with the 3D Cell Explorer located between glass plate and coverslips The medium chamber is sealed to avoid liquid drying out or leakage. There are two ways of possible sealing: 1. Recommended: tape imaging spacer (Secure (SS1X9-SecureSeal Seal Imaging Imaging Spacer, Grace Spacer, Biolabs) Grace Biolabs, Product #654002) 2. Culture-Inserts: Nail polish (as second SS1X9 choice Imaging since Spacer it frequently overflows on the 12 coverslip). Well Chamber, removable: SS8X9 Imaging Spacer 3 Well Chamber, removable: SS1X20, SS1X13, SS1X9 Imaging Spacer Reagents 2. Nail polish to be (as used: second choice since it frequently overflows on the - coverslip). Coating buffer - Culture medium - Reagents PBS to be used: - 1% Coating Paraformaldehyde buffer (PFA) in PBS - Culture medium - PBS - 1% Paraformaldehyde (PFA) in PBS Procedure: Please follow these steps at room temperature. 1. Place 4 sterile coverslips in a 10 cm dish. 2. Coat the petri dish and the cover slips with appropriate coating buffer if needed. 3. Seed about 100 000 cells of interest, add the appropriate culture medium. 4. Culture cells until they reach the equivalent of monolayer confluency. 5. Wash the cells 3 times with 2ml of pre-warmed PBS. 6. Fix the cells with 2ml 1%PFA and incubate for 15 minutes at room temperature. 7. Wash the cells 3 times with 2ml PBS. 8. Take the coverslip out and place it on a microscope slide. Put the imaging spacer on the coverslip, add a drop of PBS on top to fill the imaging spacer, close the sample with a second coverslip. Store samples at 4 C. 7
3.2 Preparation Protocols On FluoroDish µ-dish 35 mm Live or or fixed cells For living cells experiment, the cells can be directly observed in a dish designed for observation after lid removal (unless the lid of the dish is in glass) (FluoroDishes (µ-dish 35 mm ). See WPI, Figure #FD35-100). 3. See Figure 3. Figure 3. Schematic of observation of cells with the 3D Cell Explorer located in dish with clear bottom surface. Reagents to be used: - Coating buffer - Culture medium - PBS - 1% Paraformaldehyde (PFA) in PBS Procedure: for fixed cells 1. Coat the FluoroDish µ-dish 35 mm with the appropriate coating buffer if if needed. 2. Seed about 10 000 cells of interest, add the appropriate culture medium. 3. Culture cells until they reach the equivalent of monolayer confluency. 4. Wash cells 3 times with 2ml of pre-warmed PBS. 5. Fix cells with 2ml 1%PFA and incubate for 15 minutes at room temperature; then wash 3 times with 2ml of PBS. 6. Cover the cells completely with 2ml of with PBS. PBS. for live cells 1. Coat the µ-dish FluoroDish 35 mm with the appropriate coating buffer if needed. 2. Seed about 10 000 cells of interest, add the appropriate culture medium. 3. Culture cells until they reach the desired confluency. 4. Wash the cells 3 times with 2ml of pre-warmed PBS. 5. Cover the cells completely with 2ml pre-warmed with pre-warmed imaging imaging buffer. buffer. Store samples at 4 C. 8
3.2 Cleanness of sample The cleanness of the sample is crucial to insure good quality of the images. Due to our rotating illumination system, debris (either floating or out-of-focus) can be hit by the beam while not being in the field of view. Therefore, optical surfaces must be as clean as possible and cell holders should be carefully cleaned so that dead cells or any kind of remains are not floating in the mounting medium. Depending on the support used for the experiment, there are two procedures to follow before starting the acquisition with the 3D Cell Explorer: - Coverslip: lens tissues (like Thorlabs, #MC-50E) are recommended to clean the surface of the coverslip in contact with the objective. Lens tissues are ideal for removing all dust or fingerprints from the coverslip without leaving any trace of lint or fibers. To clean the coverslip, wet the tissue with few drops of Ethanol and gently rub the surface. - FluoroDish : µ-dish 35 mm : firstly, to to remove any any dead cells or or cell cell debris wash the the cells cells 3 times 3 with with PBS PBS and and then then add add the the appropriate mounting medium; medium; secondly, secondly, using using the same the same procedure described above above for for the the coverslip, clean clean the the external surface of of the the glass bottom dish which has to to be in in contact with the objective. Due to the field of view of the microscope and the depth of field (for exact specifications, please check the technical specification sheet in the user s guide manual or on our web site http://nanolive.ch/hardware/) dimensions of the cell should be inferior to these values to be fully reconstructed. 9
The Nanolive 3D Cell Explorer is compatible with the following ibidi µ-dishes: 35 mm, high µ-dish 35 mm, low µ-dish µ-dish 35 mm, low/high Grid-500 µ-dish 35 mm, high Grid-500 Glass Bottom 50 mm, low µ-dish The Nanolive 3D Cell Explorer is compatible with the following ibidi µ-slides: µ-slide 2 Well µ-slide I Luer Family µ-slide III 3D Perfusion µ-slide III 3in1 µ-slide y-shaped Please note: The access of the 3D Cell Explorer to the µ-slides and µ-dishes is limited to the center of the slide/dish. 10
Distributed by: V 1.0 / 2016 / 09 ibidi GmbH Am Klopferspitz 19 82152 Planegg / Martinsried Germany E-mail: info@ibidi.de www.ibidi.com Toll free within Germany: Phone: 0800 / 00 11 11 28 Fax: 0800 / 00 11 11 29 International calls: Phone: +49 89 / 520 46 17-0 Fax: +49 89 / 520 46 17-59 For free samples, application notes, and handling movies, please visit us at: www..com