Optical Biology
Core Facility
State-of-the-art light microscopy infrastructure and expert support for the
UC Irvine research community.
7
Instruments
4
Confocal Systems
1
Super-Resolution
1
Light Sheet
1
Slide Scanner
Available Systems
Our Instrument Suite
Seven platforms covering confocal, super-resolution, light sheet, and high-throughput slide scanning.
Confocal
Zeiss · Point-Scanning Confocal
Airyscan 2
AI Sample Finder
2-Photon
B&H FLIM
Spectral Detector
Live Incubation
Best for: High-resolution confocal, FLIM, live cell imaging, multi-photon excitation, spectral unmixing
Confocal
Zeiss · Point-Scanning Confocal
Airyscan 2
Enhanced Resolution
Best for: Routine multi-channel confocal, enhanced resolution imaging, fixed and live cell samples
Confocal
Zeiss · Point-Scanning Confocal
2-Photon Laser
Spectral Detector
Live Incubation
Best for: Spectral unmixing, live cell imaging, multi-photon deep tissue imaging
Confocal
Leica · Point-Scanning Confocal
6 Laser Lines
4 Detectors
Best for: Flexible multi-channel imaging, FRET, experiments requiring broad laser line coverage
Super-Resolution
Zeiss · Super-Resolution Platform
Lattice SIM²
SMLM
TIRF
Live Incubation
Best for: Super-resolution imaging of subcellular structures, single-molecule localization, TIRF membrane dynamics, live super-resolution
Light Sheet
Zeiss · Mesoscale Light Sheet
Mesoscale
Large Sample Chambers
Cleared Tissue
3D Imaging
Best for: Whole cleared tissue imaging, developmental biology, 3D organ-level imaging, iDISCO / CLARITY samples
Slide Scanner
Zeiss · Automated Slide Scanner
100-Slide Capacity
7 LEDs
10× / 20× / 40×
Brightfield
Fluorescence
Best for: High-throughput tissue section scanning, pathology, large cohort studies, automated brightfield and fluorescence
Confocal
Zeiss · Point-Scanning Confocal
Airyscan 2
AI Sample Finder
2-Photon
B&H FLIM
Spectral Detector
Live Incubation
Best for: High-resolution confocal, FLIM, live cell imaging, multi-photon excitation, spectral unmixing
Confocal
Zeiss · Point-Scanning Confocal
Airyscan 2
Enhanced Resolution
Best for: Routine multi-channel confocal, enhanced resolution imaging, fixed and live cell samples
Confocal
Zeiss · Point-Scanning Confocal
2-Photon Laser
Spectral Detector
Live Incubation
Best for: Spectral unmixing, live cell imaging, multi-photon deep tissue imaging
Confocal
Leica · Point-Scanning Confocal
6 Laser Lines
4 Detectors
Best for: Flexible multi-channel imaging, FRET, experiments requiring broad laser line coverage
Super-Resolution
Zeiss · Super-Resolution Platform
Lattice SIM²
SMLM
TIRF
Live Incubation
Best for: Super-resolution imaging of subcellular structures, single-molecule localization, TIRF membrane dynamics, live super-resolution
Light Sheet
Zeiss · Mesoscale Light Sheet
Mesoscale
Large Sample Chambers
Cleared Tissue
3D Imaging
Best for: Whole cleared tissue imaging, developmental biology, 3D organ-level imaging, iDISCO / CLARITY samples
Slide Scanner
Zeiss · Automated Slide Scanner
100-Slide Capacity
7 LEDs
10× / 20× / 40×
Brightfield
Fluorescence
Best for: High-throughput tissue section scanning, pathology, large cohort studies, automated brightfield and fluorescence
Available Systems
Sample Preparation Guidelines
Key requirements for optimal super-resolution image quality
🧪
EM-Grade Fixation
4% EM-grade PFA in PBS (e.g., Electron Microscopy Sciences single-use ampules). Avoid formalin or methanol-containing fixatives. Quench with 50–100 mM ammonium chloride post-fix.
💜
DAPI — Before Mounting
Apply DAPI (0.1–1 µg/mL in PBS) to cells before mounting. Rinse 3× with PBS. Never use DAPI-containing mounting media — free dye destroys SIM stripe contrast.
🔲
#1.5 Coverslips Only
Use #1.5 (0.17 mm) coverslips — #1.5H high-precision is ideal. Wrong thickness introduces spherical aberration and ruins SIM reconstruction quality.
🟢
Mounting Media
| Product | Brand | RI | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prolong Diamond | Thermo | ~1.47 | Top Pick |
| Prolong Glass | Thermo | ~1.52 | Top Pick |
| Mount Solid | Abberior | ~1.52 | SR Optimized |
| Vectashield Vibrance | Vector | ~1.46 | Good |
| EverBrite HardSet | Biotium | ~1.47 | Good |
| Prolong Gold | Thermo | ~1.46 | Suboptimal |
| DIY / Aqueous | — | ≤1.46 | Avoid |
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