Our lab has access to the departmental Zeiss LSM 710 confocal microscope, which is fitted with Zeiss N-Achroplan 10x, NEOFLUAR 20x and LD EC Epiplan NEOFLUAR 50x (0.55 DIC) objectives. The setup has laser sources capable of producing excitation wavelengths of 405, 458, 488, 514, 543 and 633 nm.
Glasgow School of Chemistry Confocal page
Confocal microscopy works by scanning through aligned irradiation and narrow focal points to sequentially build up a fluorescence microscopy image of a sample. This differs from brightfield microscopy by rejecting out-of-focus light. This is achieved via a pinhole/confocal aperture. This system allows for Z-stack images and other imaging beyond simply the top surface of the sample.
Gel samples for confocal imaging are typically prepared in small cell culture dishes, with an appropriate fluorescent dye added. See ‘Gel Preparation for Confocal Imaging’ for additional details.
This instrument allows for the visualisation of the microstructure possessed by the underlying gelator networks within our gels on the micrometre scale.
We have shown how different gelation triggers and solvents (as well as a range of other factors) can influence these underlying networks and their microstructure.1,2,3 This can be correlated with measured differences in other properties, such as viscoelastic response.
The departmental confocal microscope is located in B3-21b and is owned by the Wynne Group. Ben Russell (ben.russell@glasgow.ac.uk, Wynne Office) is the instrument handler and urgent problems should be directed immediately to him. The microscope is located in a dry-lab/office so samples should be transported and stored in appropriate containers, with any necessary lab equipment or cleaning supplies brought with you (and removed after!).
Emma is our group local expert and should be contacted for training or to arrange the running of samples. Bookings should be made on the relevant google calendar no earlier than the Monday of the week you wish to carry out imaging. For trainings and other bookings likely to involve multiple attendees, please give Chris Symes (christopher.syme@glasgow.ac.uk) a little heads up email in advance, as his office is also located in this lab and it is a small room.
References
1 – Soft Matter, 2011,7, 9721-9727
2 – Soft Matter, 2015, 11, 927-935
3 – Biomacromolecules 2023, 24, 9, 4253–4262
Dave Adams Lab 