title: A Modular and Affordable Time-Lapse Imaging and Incubation System Based on 3D-Printed Parts, a Smartphone, and Off-The-Shelf Electronics.
abstract: Time-lapse imaging is a powerful tool for studying cellular dynamics and cell behavior over long periods of time to acquire detailed functional information. However, commercially available time-lapse imaging systems are expensive and this has limited a broader implementation of this technique in low-resource environments. Further, the availability of time-lapse imaging systems often present workflow bottlenecks in well-funded institutions. To address these limitations we have designed a modular and affordable time-lapse imaging and incubation system (ATLIS). The ATLIS enables the transformation of simple inverted microscopes into live cell imaging systems using custom-designed 3D-printed parts, a smartphone, and off-the-shelf electronic components. We demonstrate that the ATLIS provides stable environmental conditions to support normal cell behavior during live imaging experiments in both traditional and evaporation-sensitive microfluidic cell culture systems. Thus, the system presented here has the potential to increase the accessibility of time-lapse microscopy of living cells for the wider research community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4241-2113
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández Vera
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Emil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.|Gradientech AB, Uppsala Science Park, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fatsis-Kavalopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreuger
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004581:Electronics; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation; D000068997:Smartphone; D012984:Software; D013696:Temperature; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*