Label free and Confocal Imaging with Leica STELLARIS 8 CRS – Coherent Raman Scattering
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET
Location: 12-0168 (MIT.nano basement)
The Leica Stellaris 8 CRS supports spectral imaging, lifetime imaging and label free imaging using Coherent Raman Scattering.
Each type of molecule contains a set of chemical bonds that can vibrate at characteristic vibrational frequencies. Coherent Raman Scattering (CRS) microscopy is the umbrella term for imaging methods that probe these vibrational modes of molecules using laser light. In this way, CRS provides a rich, chemically specific image contrast that arises directly from the endogenous molecules of the sample. No exogenous labels are required, in contrast to fluorescence microscopy. The two most important CRS techniques – Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) and Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) – both enable label-free, up to video-rate imaging in living cells, tissues, and even deep inside intact model organisms. While CARS is best known for its great ability to provide crisp, high-resolution images of abundant species, SRS is becoming increasingly popular as a powerful quantitative chemical imaging technique.
STELLARIS 8 is a true confocal point scanning system, including a White Light Laser as excitation light source, an Acousto Optical Beam Splitter and a highly sensitive, prism-based spectral detection design with computer controlled adjustable bandwidth for all internal detection channels. The system provides high speed, fully integrated Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM). FLIM enables functional imaging (molecular interactions, microenvironmental studies) and multiplexing (separate signals from dyes with similar spectrum but different fluorescence lifetime).