confocal laser scanning microscope

The confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) is regularly used in a wide range of ongoing research projects. In advanced in vitro model research, it is applied for the characterization of two-dimensional and three-dimensional in vitro cell culture models and ex vivo culture. It enables us to understand cell differentiation, cell fate, cell fusion and biological-barrier formation in the in vitro models. In nanomedicine and nanosafety research, CLSM is applied to study intracellular trafficking and co-localization of fluorescent nanoparticles in cellular and subcellular (i.e., mitochondria, lysosomes, and nucleus) compartments. It is also used for the characterization of cellular structures (e.g. cytoskeleton, vesicles, nuclei, membrane and intracellular proteins) upon treatment to nanomedicines and advanced materials that help in understanding cellular responses and mechanisms. The CLSM is also used to image different kinds of implantable materials, to investigate the interaction between various surfaces/surface modifications and cell/tissue responses. The reflection mode, which uses incident laser light reflected at surfaces, enables the combined visualization of surface topography on metallic implants and for example the cell cytoskeleton, nuclei or membrane proteins. The evaluation of cell migration or infiltration in 3D hydrogels is also performed using timelapse microscopy. In addition, the CLSM is part of our correlative-imaging activities coupled with other high-resolution techniques such as scanning or transmission electron microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy.