A micro-incubator for cell and tissue imaging.
A low-cost micro-incubator for imaging dynamic processes in living cells and tissues has been developed. This micro-incubator provides a tunable environment that can be altered to study responses of cell monolayers for several days as well as relatively thick tissue samples and tissue-engineered epithelial tissues in experiments lasting several hours. Samples are contained in a sterile cavity closed by a gas-permeable membrane. The incubator can be positioned in any direction and used on an inverted or upright microscope. Temperature is regulated using a Peltier module controlled by a sensor positioned close to the sample, enabling compensation for any changes in temperature. Rapid changes in a sample's surrounding environment can be achieved due to the fast response of the Peltier module. These features permit monitoring of sample adaptation to induced environmental changes.
Picard
Cyril
C
Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. cyril.picard@legi.grenoble-inp.fr
Hearnden
Vanessa
V
Massignani
Marzia
M
Achouri
Sarra
S
Battaglia
Giuseppe
G
MacNeil
Sheila
S
Donald
Athene
A
D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004867:Equipment Design; D007185:Incubators; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055616:Microtechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013696:Temperature; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*