A microfluidic-enabled mechanical microcompressor for the immobilization of live single- and multi-cellular specimens.
A microcompressor is a precision mechanical device that flattens and immobilizes living cells and small organisms for optical microscopy, allowing enhanced visualization of sub-cellular structures and organelles. We have developed an easily fabricated device, which can be equipped with microfluidics, permitting the addition of media or chemicals during observation. This device can be used on both upright and inverted microscopes. The apparatus permits micrometer precision flattening for nondestructive immobilization of specimens as small as a bacterium, while also accommodating larger specimens, such as Caenorhabditis elegans, for long-term observations. The compressor mount is removable and allows easy specimen addition and recovery for later observation. Several customized specimen beds can be incorporated into the base. To demonstrate the capabilities of the device, we have imaged numerous cellular events in several protozoan species, in yeast cells, and in Drosophila melanogaster embryos. We have been able to document previously unreported events, and also perform photobleaching experiments, in conjugating Tetrahymena thermophila.
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Yingjun
Y
Yan
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Liwei
L
Jiang
Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Karl J
KJ
Aufderheide
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Gus A
GA
Wright
Center for Laser Applications, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN 37388, USA.
Alexander
A
Terekhov
Center for Laser Applications, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN 37388, USA.
Lino
L
Costa
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Kevin
K
Qin
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
W Tyler
WT
McCleery
Vanderbilt Machine Shop, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
John J
JJ
Fellenstein
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Alessandro
A
Ustione
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
J Brian
JB
Robertson
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Carl Hirschie
CH
Johnson
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
David W
DW
Piston
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
M Shane
MS
Hutson
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
John P
JP
Wikswo
Center for Laser Applications, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN 37388, USA.
William
W
Hofmeister
Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
Chris
C
Janetopoulos
D000818:Animals; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000166:cytology; D004867:Equipment Design; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016805:Paramecium tetraurelia / Q000166:cytology; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000166:cytology; D015003:Yeasts / Q000166:cytology