The Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine utilizes Re-scan Confocal Microscopy in their research into neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease.

The Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) is a multidisciplinary research institute that aims at understanding human health conditions with a special focus on neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease. To that aim, they study model systems as well as patient-derived samples at multiple scales, from individual molecules over cells and tissues, up to the whole organ and organism level. The LCSB is home to more than 200 scientists with diverse backgrounds ranging from the different disciplines of biology, neuroscience and medicine, over engineering and computer science to theoretical and applied chemistry, physics and mathematics. This broad mixture is at the core of the institute’s original approach and successful studies of neurodegenerative disorders.

Research Associate, Dr Aymeric d’Hérouël, describes how he uses microscopy in his research work. With its high resolution, confocal microscopy is an essential tool for the study of structures and molecular interactions or spatially resolved gene expression in tissue samples and cells. A typical application for us is the fluorescent labelling of entire cells or sub-cellular structures, followed by 3D-scanning with confocal microscopy, comparing patient and control samples with the aim to unravel disease-causing mechanisms. Another application is the imaging of live neuronal cells, in which specific organelles are labelled with fluorescent dyes, e.g., mitochondria which play a central role in neurodegeneration. Doing this with a confocal microscope allows Dr d’Hérouël and colleagues to study the behaviour of the labelled organelles in disease models as well as in cells subjected to genetic mutations or environmental stresses.

Dr d’Hérouël describes how he came across Re-scan Confocal Microscopy. “We had come across publications about the RCM method early on. We first saw the system in action at the European Light Microscopy Initiative’s meeting in Debrecen (Hungary). Convinced by the method and happy to see it implemented as a commercial product, we decided to extend our microscopy platform with an RCM module. Although not performing at the same acquisition speed nor have the flexibility as our confocal systems from other microscopy companies, the RCM’s capabilities such as the openness of the system (both hardware and software when using MicroManager-based control) and the demonstrated resolution and image quality justified our decision to purchase.”

He continues: “Confocal.nl is an extremely approachable company and the installation of our system was performed by its chief executives. This was dictated by the company’s age and size. The interaction and communication with them has always been seamless. When problems occurred after the initial setup (and problems do occur with all new systems), the contact was quickly made with their software developers and the issues were quickly resolved. The integration of the RCM with our pre-existing setup was simple. We were already equipped with a Nikon Ti-E microscope and Hamamatsu Orca Flash 4.0v2 camera for epifluorescence imaging and an Omicron laser source from a home-made selective plane illumination microscope. These components were immediately compatible with the RCM module out of the box making the hardware installation at our site essentially plug-and-play. The possibility to reuse and connect all of our present equipment thus also made the RCM a very cost-effective solution to upgrade our epifluorescence setup with a confocal scanner.”

Speaking about the installation in Luxembourg, Confocal.nl’s CEO, Peter Drent, says “We were extremely pleased to have Dr d’Hérouël select the RCM. We worked together to configure an excellent, cost-effective system with high resolution and sensitivity using the lab’s existing fluorescence microscope and accessories.”

To learn about the Confocal.nl RCM module and how it may be configured into a high-performance scanning confocal imaging system, please visit www.confocal.nl. This includes a detailed video describing the principle of RCM.

The Sauer Laboratory at the University of Würzburg implements Re-scan Confocal Microscopy with a new turnkey system from Confocal.nl.

Professor Markus Sauer is the Chair of the group for biotechnology and biophysics at the University of Würzburg. He is very interested in imaging: “Imaging technologies are central platforms that drive fundamental research in virtually all disciplines across the biological and medical sciences. By seeing how a system looks, functions can be understood and comparison made between healthy and unhealthy systems such as cells, tissue, a whole organism or population, plants, animals and humans.”

Professor Sauer’s PhD student, Andreas Kurz, describes how he implemented a new technique called Re-scan Confocal Microscopy (RCM). “We integrated the RCM module from Confocal.nl to our existing single molecule dSTORM setup to establish a new correlative imaging technique. As RCM is based on image scanning, it intrinsically has super-resolution capabilities (170 nm) combined with the advantages of a conventional confocal microscope. Now with this combined correlative imaging setup, a new variety of experiments are possible. Recording dynamic processes and the long-term observation of cell activity followed by resolving the structure of interest, a superb resolution of around 20 nm will now be possible.”

Mr Kurz continues to describe the process to select RCM: “Confocal microscopy is an imaging technique with lots of advantages. First of all, it is an easy-to-use tool for routine work in the field of fluorescence. Now with RCM, we have an enhanced version of confocal microscopy which allows the observation of sensitive samples and more complex imaging procedures at a higher resolution than other confocal microscopies. This system is now used to complement other techniques such as structured illumination microscopy, single molecule localisation microscopy setups and light sheet illumination microscopy.”

“We ordered our RCM unit from Confocal.nl. Their CTO, Erik Manders, visited to personally assist with the installation and training. Since then, we have had excellent support with updates through software plugins and exchanging applications experiences. Concerning the setup, we had the microscope body already installed (Nikon Eclipse TiE). In addition, we purchased a Skyra multi-line laser unit from Cobolt and an Andor Zyla 4.2 sCMOS camera. It was great to be able to use our existing microscope and then add specific components to, in effect, produce a turnkey set-up to match our demanding needs. Confocal.nl continue to provide a lot of support (local as well as via mail/phone). Having an accessible and manageable team, we get the ease of communication with a personal touch, something I really prefer in this environment.”

Concluding, Mr Kurz says “Now, our experimental set-up is a unique, fast-scanning, resolution-enhanced and live-cell capable system configured for both dSTORM and RCM that delivers super-resolution performance. Our main reasons for purchase have been realised in terms of performance of the complete package integrating our existing components at a very fair price. We have found the multi-colour capability with incredibly low laser power very useful for live cell imaging.”

Speaking about the installation at Würzburg, Confocal.nl’s CEO, Peter Drent, says “We were extremely pleased to have Professor Sauer’s team select the RCM. They provided precise requirements from which we have been able to configure an excellent, working system with high resolution and sensitivity. While dSTORM is quite an intensive experimental technique involving complex biological and chemical sample preparation, it does provide 20 nm resolution. This is now complemented by RCM also giving super-resolution at 170 nm with minimal sample preparation delivering a simple, instant image.”

 

At Confocal.nl, we believe in matching our users’ expectations and needs to best use their existing light microscopes and accessories and build the most cost-effective 3D imaging confocal microscope possible. For this we use the unique technique of Re-scan Confocal Microscopy (RCM). This was developed by Dr Erik Manders while leading his Innovative Microscopy Lab at the University of Amsterdam. Now, as CTO of our company, Confocal.nl, Erik, in partnership with experienced microscopy entrepreneur Peter Drent,  brings a new approach to bring better microscopy solutions to the market through simple, no-nonsense technology. Erik explains how we do it.

“The team at Confocal.nl has extensive experience in the field of microscopy, both in terms of technology and commercial acumen. We have learned to listen to colleagues and clients. We believe we are able to deliver accessible, easy-to-use solutions with better resolution, sensitivity and reproducibility. We also believe that users of microscopy want to have (improved) confocal microscopy performance at a price that is accessible to them. When we talk to prospective users about their imaging expectations, we start by finding out about their current instrumentation. This core information enables us to propose a custom-designed solution at a most affordable price point. Why dispose of perfectly functioning fluorescent microscopes, cameras and lasers when you can upgrade their performance with our Re-scan Confocal Microscopy module? From our growing, worldwide user base, we are confident we have found the best approach: to deliver a turnkey solution using our unique technology where we maximize photon collection and do so at a price a fraction of buying other commercial 3D confocal imaging solutions.”

Supporting these views, CEO Peter Drent says “We promise to improve your imaging experience guaranteeing image quality and a positive, friendly user experience.”

Please submit information on your current equipment, and get a custom-designed upgrade solution.