Imaging Facility
The Imaging Facility maintains a diverse park of advanced light microscopes and an optical tweezers instrument which permit to acquire and analyze images of various live and fixed objects of interest, from single molecule to whole-organ scales.Imaging Facility provides training and advice on sample preparation, operation of the instruments and image analysis, and participates in method development.
Advanced photonic microscopy and more
Thanks to the tremendous progress in instrumentation, software, and molecular “tools” (genetically encoded fluorophores, ion sensors etc.), fluorescence microscopy has become a key “stand-alone” technology in modern life sciences. Fluorescence microscopy can be used to specifically visualize almost any structure of interest. Details smaller than the limits imposed by conventional optics can be visualized by recently developed “super-resolution” techniques. In many cases, dynamic non-invasive observations of live objects are possible, and quantitative data can be extracted, including information on concentration, specific interactions and mobility of the molecules of interest. Moreover, optical tweezers technique enables non-invasive manipulations with individual biological macromolecules and measurements of mechanical forces at single molecule scale
Overview
9 advanced light microscopes and an optical tweezers instrument are available at the Imaging Facility, as well as accessory equipment and image processing tools. The microscopes permit to image live and fixed samples at the scales ranging from “super-resolution” (<100 nanometers) to whole-organ (few millimeters) Optical tweezers combined with confocal microscope (C-Trap) enables to manipulate non-invasively with microscopic objects, such as individual macromolecules and their associates, and to measure mechanical forces at single molecule scale, while observing the objects in real time by the microscope.
We support over 80 active users from MPI-IE in image acquisition and analysis. Besides routine individual training sessions on the usage of microscopes and image analysis programs, the Imaging Facility spreads knowledge on microscopy techniques and relevant applications at the seminars, courses and other events, for instance, providing theoretical and practical training in light microscopy for PhD students within the IMPRS program of the Max Planck Society. We organize demonstrations and trials of novel microscopy software and hardware at the MPI-IE.
The Imaging Facility interacts extensively with other microscopy communities throughout Germany and Europe. It is a member of the German Society for Bioimaging and Image Analysis, Max Planck BioImaging Core Units Network and Microscopy and Image Analysis Platform (MIAP). Participation in these networks gives MPI-IE members access to a wide arsenal of cutting technologies which are not available in-house, and facilitates access to training and workshops by leading experts in these areas. Furthermore, the Imaging Facility participates in the global QUAREP consortium, which aims to deliver a comprehensive collection of community-endorsed guidelines, standardized protocols, and other resources aimed at enhancing quality control, quality assurance, and the calibration of bioimaging instruments and methodologies.