title: A micro-incubator for cell and tissue imaging.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. cyril.picard@legi.grenoble-inp.fr
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hearnden
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massignani
authors.forename: Sarra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Achouri
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MacNeil
authors.forename: Athene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donald
mesh_terms: 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*