Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscope with Data Storage Module

• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 459047646

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy is an extremely light efficient and fast optical sectioning technique. It is the technique of choice when it comes to imaging large, cleared samples. The efficiency of light sheet fluorescence microscopy comes from the fact that the excitation and emission optical paths are decoupled. This is achieved by using two objective lenses arranged perpendicular to each other: One to project an illumination light sheet into the sample and the second one to detect fluorescence emission from the excited optical plane. We apply for a light sheet fluorescence microscope, which can handle and image very large specimen in a fully automated manner. The microscope shall be extended by a high resolution water-dipping detection objective and a data storage module. The light sheet microscope will allow in vivo imaging as well as the imaging of cleared and/or expanded samples. The system includes four lasers for fluorescence excitation ranging from 405 to 640 nm. This range will provide the efficient excitation of a broad range of fluorophores including various autofluorescent proteins giving maximal flexibility of labeling. This new instrument will be used to develop new protocols for specimen expansion and will be applied to several projects in the fields of, neuronal connectomics, brain organoids and nephrology.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Lightsheet Microscope with Data-Storage
• Instrumentation Group: 5040 Spezielle Mikroskope (außer 500-503)
• Applicant Institution: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Leader: Professor Dr. Ulrich Kubitscheck