Applications of Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope in Biology
① It is applicable to nearly all cell research fields including cell biology, cell physiology, neurobiology and neurophysiology.
② It enables non‑invasive real‑time observation and analysis of living cells for combined morphological and functional research. Cell detection is non‑invasive, safe, reliable and highly repeatable. Data and images can be output promptly or stored for long-term preservation.
③ Continuous optical section scanning can be performed on living cells, tissues or cell tissue slices to obtain fine 2D and 3D layer structures of a single cell, cell groups or local observed tissues. These include cell-specific structures such as cytoskeletons, chromosomes, organelles, cell membrane systems and deep structures of specimens, as well as complete three-dimensional images. Four-dimensional images can be acquired by analyzing changes over time. Images varying with fluorescence wavelength can also be obtained to realize multi-dimensional imaging. It allows high-precision spatial localization of tissue cells and other target structures, supporting real-time dynamic observation, analysis and recording for qualitative, quantitative, time-resolved and positional distribution analysis.
④ Observation of cellular biomaterials in live cells or sliced specimens labeled with fluorescent probes, including membrane labeling, cell tracing, target substances, biochemical reactions, receptors or ligands, nucleic acids, etc. Multiple substances can be labeled and observed simultaneously on the same specimen.
⑤ Fluorescent labeling of intracellular ions with single or multiple labels. It detects the ratio and dynamic changes of intracellular ion concentrations such as pH, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
⑥ Measurement of cell membrane potential, detection of free radicals, etc.
⑦ Carry out high-precision FRAP (Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching) experiments. Combined with fluorescence loss in photobleaching experiments, it is used to study cell-cell communication and the movement of intracellular molecules. In time-scan and photobleaching (photodestruction) experiments, data and images of each channel can be output and converted synchronously. FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) experiments can be performed to study the motion and interaction of intracellular molecules and ions via changes in fluorescence wavelength.
⑧ It features high precision (spatial localization, quantification, wavelength resolution, time resolution), high sensitivity and fast response. It can separate, observe and analyze multi-fluorescence labeled cell tissues in the same time window, even for multiple fluorophores with very close emission wavelengths (only several nanometers difference). It also provides online measurement and analysis functions such as co-localization analysis for multi-fluorescence labels.
