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
BINA (BioImaging of North America) Training and Education Resources.
Suggested 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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