School of Biomedical Sciences
生物醫學學院
The Chinese University of Hong Kong 香港中文大學

Microscopy and Imaging Core

Microscopy & Imaging Core

About us

Equipment

1. Microscopes
       a. Scientifica Hyperscope Multi-photon System
       b. Leica TCS SP8 WLL Inverted Confocal Microscope with Tokai-hit Incubation System
       c. Olympus FV1200 Inverted Confocal Microscope with Ibidi Incubation System
       d. Molecular Device ImageXpress Micro Confocal High-Content Imaging System
       e. SciMedia MiCAM03 High Speed Imaging System
       f. Nikon Ti-2 Inverted Fluorescence Microscope with Motorized stage and Okolab Incubation System
       g. Olympus IX83 Inverted Fluorescence Microscope with Aurox Clarity Laser Free Confocal System
       h. Nikon Ni-U Eclipse Upright Microscope with fluorescence attachment
       i. ZEISS Axioscan 7 Microscope Slide Scanner
       j. LiTone XL Light-sheet Microscope System
       k. Abberior FACILITY LINE – STED Super-resolution Nanoscope (coming soon)
       l. Imaris 10 Imaging software

2. Electron Microscopes
       a. Hitachi HT7700 Transmission Electron Microscope
       b. Hitachi SU8010 Cold Field Scanning Electron Microscope
       c. Auxiliary instruments:
           i.  Tousimis PVT30 Samdri Critical Point Dryer
           ii. Quorum Q150TES Sputter Coater
           iii. Leica UCT7 Ultratome
           iv. RMC Glass Knife Maker (GKM2)

General Information

For SBS User:

Application for Access to SBS Core Laboratories for SBS Staffs and Students

https://corelab.sbs.cuhk.edu.hk/public

For Non-SBS User:

Access of facilities to non-SBS users may be considered. Principal investigator of the project please submits the request to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .The principal investigator, together with the end-users, will be invited for a discussion on project requirements and facility usage procedures in person. Requests of non-PIs will not be entertained.

General Enquiry: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contacts

Ms Josie Lai  
Senior Technician  
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel no: 39436804
   
Dr. Kevin Kok  
Technician  
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel no: 39435754
   
Dr. Ivy Lin  
Technician  
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel no: 39430572
   
Location: LIBSB Room 108-110, 115
Lab no.: 39436843

Scanco Medical µCT 35

scanco

  µCT 35 is used to examine diverse materials such as ex-vivo bone samples and medical implants and are calibrated for measurement of biological tissue densities, and powerful 3D analysis routines including distance transformation, allowing measurement of thickness and separation of features like trabecular bone structure and blood vessels. The sample changer accommodates 8 sample holders. Depending on scanner type and sample holder diameter, scan position and protocol are specified for all samples interactively during loading, after which scans are performed unattended in batch mode. It also provides a software suite that offers a comprehensive solution for scanning, 3D analysis, visualization, image management and data import/export.
Specifications µCT 35
Type Desktop cone-beam micro-CT

Fully shielded

No external shielding required

X-ray source Sealed

Air-cooled

Maintenance-free

30 - 70 kVp / 20 - 50 keV (160 µA)

Detector 2048 x 256 elements, 24 µm pitch
Resolution ‹ 5 µm 10% MTF

1.75 - 72 µm nominal isotropic (pixel size)

Image matrix 512 x 512 to 4096 x 4096 pix
Max. scan size 37.9 x 120 mm (ØxL)
Max. specimen size 75.8* x 140 mm (ØxL) [ *Density calibration valid up to 36.9mm]
Applications Trabecular bone evaluation:

• Segmentation of bone

• Trabecular thickness

• Trabecular separation

• Finite element analysis of trabecular stress

 

Material Applications (µCT 35):

• Scaffold thickness map

• Freeze-dried sample

Staff-in-charge:

- Josie
Back-up Support: - Anny / Samuel
Location: LIBSB 115
Booking For SBS MEMBERS ONLY and not open to non-SBS users.
  Micro-CT User Guidelines

Leica TCS SP8 White Light (WLL) Confocal Microscope

IMG Core C01

Features:

White confocal combines a white light laser source, tunable excitation filtering, tunable beam-splitting and tunable emission-detection – with full access to the keys for all colors.  It allows users to specify any excitation wavelength between 470nm and 670nm.

Together with an AOBS (acoustical optical beam splitter) up to 8 discrete laser lines can be selected simultaneously with a 1 nm precision. Because the WLL system is a pulsed laser it can be used in conjunction with hybrid detectors to provide gated suppression (removal) of auto-fluorescence and reflected light. The SP8's spectral detection system uses a prism spectrometer based emission separation (not filters) that allows user selection of emission detection bandwidth as well as spectral scanning of emission profiles. This allows users to precisely select any emission band-pass they require. Additionally, the system can scan at 8000Hz for ultra-fast scanning (and greatly reduced photo-bleaching) via its selectable resonant scanner. It is fully enclosed for heating and environmental control with media perfusion capabilities and CO2 control. The system is ideal for imaging live cells, tissue in culture dishes and chambered cover glass (#1.5).

Microscope
Leica DMi8 CS Motorized inverted microscope with universal stage insert for glass slide, Petri dishes of size from 35mm to 60mm.

  • Light source EL6000
  • Filter cubes: DAPI LP, FITC LP, RHOD LP, Y5, CFP/YFP  
  • Super Z Galvo stage Type H using closed-loop control of auto-focus system / drift compensation
  • Insert Universal Type H
  • Multiwell plate insert for Super Z
  • Petri dish insert 36 mm for Super Z
  • Closed Loop Focus with AFC
  • Adaptive Focus Control – Laser based autofocusing ensures that the sample remains in focus throughout time-lapse experiment


Objectives

  • HC PL APO 10x/0.40 CS2 (FWD 2.2mm)
  • HC PL APO 20x/0.75 CS2 (FWD 0.62mm)
  • HCX PL APO 40x/0.85 CORR CS1 (FWD 0.21mm)
  • HC PL APO 63x/1.20 W CORR CS2 (FWD 0.3mm)
  • HC PL APO 63x/1.40 OIL CS2 (FWD 0.14mm)


Super Z incubation system and accessories

Tokai Hit INUG2-GSI2-SET -  Control Unit (110 - 240V)

  • GSI2 Chamber Unit(T11)
  • Temperature Controller with built-in digital gas mixer for 100% CO2 gas use. Supply fixed 5%CO2+95% Air
  • Dish Attachment
    • GSI2-D35(TD11)- Dish Attachment for 35 mm dish
    • GSI2-CGC(TD13) - Dish Attachment for chambered coverglass
    • GSI2-CS(TD14) - Dish Attachment for chamber slide and slide glass
  • Sensor Lid
    • D35-200F(TS1) - Sensor Lid for 35 mm dish
    • CSG-200F(TS14) - Sensor Lid for chamber slide and chambered coverglass


Light Sources

  • WLL2 (tunable), avg. power 1.5 mW: 470 – 670 nm, 78 MHz; with integrated pulse picker: 78, 39, 19.5, 9.75 MHz
  • UV / 405 nm laser, 50mW
  • Ar-Laser, Blue, 65 mW with following wavelengths: 458 nm, 476 nm, 488 nm, 496 nm, 514 nm
  • Leica EL6000 – Mercury metal halide bulb: ~ 300 nm – 700nm (peaks at 365, 405, 436, 546, 579)

An acousto-optical tunable filter (AOTF) controls the intensity of the visible excitation laser light.

An acousto-optical beam splitter (AOBS) is used to split excitation light and emission light instead of filter blocks.


Detectors

Reflection/fluorescence mode (spectral detection range 400-800 nm)

  • 2 x HyD (GaAsP detectors - Operating mode: Standard, counting, BrightR) + time-gating
  • 2 x PMT (Standard photomultiplier tube)
  • 1 Transmitted light detector


Scanners

X2Y-scanner with optically correct scanning at low inertia 
Conventional scanner: 1-3600Hz (bidirectional)

  • Maximal frame rate 512 x 512: 7 frames/sec
  • Maximal frame rate 512 x 16: 112 frames/sec
  • Maximal frame resolution: 8192 x 8192 pixel
  • Scan zoom: 0.7 – 48 x
  • Field rotation:  220° optical
  • Field diameter: 22 mm


Resonant scanner
: 8K – 16KHz

  • Maximal frame rate 512 x 512: 28 frames/sec
  • Maximal frame rate 512 x 16: 290 frames/sec
  • Maximal frame resolution: 2496 x 2496 pixel
  • Scan zoom: 1.25 – 48 x
  • Field rotation:  200° optical
  • Field diameter: 13 mm


Scan modes

xyz, xt, xyt, xyzt, xyλ, xyλt, xyzλ, xyzλt, xzy, xzt, xzyt, xzλ, xzλt, 
xyL, xzL, xyzL, xyLt, xyλL, xzλL (WLL) 


Softwares

  • Image acquisition
  • Mosaicking / Stitching
  • Online dye separation
  • Photon statistics
  • Lambda scan
  • Lambda-lambda scan
  • LASX SP8 Control Software
  • LASX Dye Finder
  • LightGate via pulsed WLL and HyD detectors helps remove reflected light as well as autofluorescence
  • LASX Lightning
  • LASX 3D Visualization
  • LASX Co-Localization
  • LASX MicroLab
  • LASX FRAP Zoomer
  • LASX 2D analysis
  • LASX 2D Analysis Multi ChannelExtension
  • LASX Environmental Control
  • LASX Live Data mode
  • LASX SP8 Offline analysis
    • LASX Basic license, Live Data Mode, Colocalization, FRET, FRAP, Dye Finder, Electrophysiology

Staff-in-charge:

Anny Cheung
Back-up Support: Josie Lai
Location: LIBSB 108A
Remarks:

- Data files stored on the machine will be deleted FIVE working days after experiments without advanced notice. 
- Data files greater than 1GB will be automatically removed TWO working days after experimentation.

 

Olympus FV1200 SIM Confocal System with ZDC

IMG Core C01

Features: - Equipped for fixed and live cell imaging, time-lapse imaging, multi-fluorescence z-stack 3-D, FRET/FRAP, SIM/HSD, multi-position time-lapse and mosaic outline imaging;
Fiber: Broadband type (400nm – 800nm)
Laser light: 405nm: 50mW, 440nm: 25mW, 473nm: 15mW, 559nm: 15mW, 635mW, 20mW
Detector mode: 3 PMTs; 2 high sensitive GaAsPs detector with Peltier cooling
Microscope: Olympus IX83 Inverted microscope
Objectives: 4x, 10x, 20x, 30x (silicone oil), 40x, 60x (water), 60x (oil), 60x (silicone oil)
FL filters: DAPI, GFP, Cy3, Cy5
Information on Olympus IX83 FL Chroma filter sets
Motorized stages: Prior Model 117 with joystick
Incubation chamber: ibidi Heating System, Universal Fit with gas incubation system
Software: FluoView 4.2a

Staff-in-charge:

- Josie
Back-up Support: - Anny/Samuel
Location: LIBSB 108B
Remarks: For SBS Experienced and Trained user only.

- Data files stored on the machine will be deleted FIVE working days after experiments without advanced notice.

- Data files greater than 1GB will be automatically removed TWO working days after experimentation.

 

Olympus FV1000-ZCD Laser Scanning Confocal System

 IMG Core C03

Features: - Equipped for fixed and live cell imaging, time-lapse imaging and multi-fluorescence z-stack 3-D imaging;

- Connected to an IX81 inverted microscope with objectives 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x, 63x oil and epi-fluorescence filters for DAPI, FITC and TRITC;

- Incubation chamber for live cell imaging;

- Laser sets of spectral type multi-Argon (458, 488, 515) LD405, LD559 and LD635.

Staff-in-charge:

- Josie
Back-up Support: - Anny / Samuel
Location: LIBSB 108B
Remarks: For SBS Experienced and Trained user only.

- Data files stored on the machine will be deleted FIVE working days after experiments without advanced notice.

- Data files greater than 1GB will be automatically removed TWO working days after experimentation.

 

Leica SP-5 Confocal System (No UV Laser)

IMG Core C04

Features: - Equipped for fixed/live cell imaging; time-lapse imaging and high-speed multi-fluorescence optical sectioning;

- Connected to Leica DMI6000 inverted microscope with fluorescence filters for I3 (Ex 450-490 / Em LP515) and N2.1 (Ex 515-560 / Em LP590);

- Laser sets multi-Argon 458, 476, 488, 514, DPSS 561 and HeNe633;

- Objectives: 10x, 20x, 40x, 40x oil, 63x water, 100x oil.

Staff-in-charge:

- Josie
Back-up Support: - Anny / Samuel
Location: LIBSB 110
 Remarks:  - Data files stored on the machine will be deleted FIVE working days after experiments without advanced notice.

- Data files greater than 1GB will be automatically removed TWO working days after experimentation.

 

Olympus IX83 Fully Motorized Inverted Microscope with ZDC

ix83

Features:

- Equipped for fixed and live cell imaging

 

Microscope
- Objectives:

• UPLSAPO4X, N.A. 0.16, WD 13
• UPLSAPO10X, N.A. 0.4, WD 3.1
• UPLSAPO20X, N.A. 0.75, WD 0.6
• UPLSAPO40X, N.A. 0.95, WD 0.18

Filter sets: DAPI/Hoechst, FITC/EGFP, PI/TRITC, Cy5
Information on Olympus IX83 FL Chroma filter sets

Light source: X-Cite 120Q Metal halide or CoolLED pE4000 UV with 16 Selectable wavelengths including 365, 385, 405, 435, 460, 470, 490, 500, 525, 550, 580, 595, 635, 660, 740, 770nm

Software interface: CellSens Dimension

Camera: DP80 Double-CCD


Color CCD:Resolution at 12.5 megapixels (4080 x 3072)

Monochrome CCD:
Resolution at 1.4 megapixels (1360 x 1024)
Binning: 2 x 2, 4 x 4

Staff-in-charge:

- Josie
Back-up Support: - Anny / Samuel
Location: LIBSB 110

  

Olympus SZX16 Stereomicroscope Imaging System

szx16

Features: Microscope

- Zoom range:
16.4 (0.7, 0.8, 1, 1.25, 1.6, 2, 2.5, 3.2, 4, 5, 6.3, 8, 10, 11.5)

- Objectives:
1x Plan Apochromat, N.A. 0.15, W.D.(mm) 60 Total magnification 7x - 115x
2x Plan Apochromat, N.A. 0.3, W.D.(mm) 20 Total magnification 14x - 230x

Filter sets: DAPI, GFP, Cy3, Cy5
Illumination: X-Cite 120Q Metal halide or CoolLED pE4000 UV 635, 660, 740, 770nm

Software interface: CellSens

Camera: DP80 Double-CCD

Color CCD: Resolution at 12.5 megapixels (4080 x 3072)

Monochrome CCD:
Resolution at 1.4 megapixels (1360 x 1024)
Binning: 2 x 2, 4 x 4

Staff-in-charge:

- Josie
Back-up Support: - Anny / Samuel
Location: LIBSB 110

 

Imaris 7.72 by Bitplane

imaris

Features:

Imaris is Bitplane's core scientific software module that delivers all the necessary functionality for data visualization, segmentation, analysis and interpretation of 3D and 4D microscopy datasets.

 

Modules available:

  • Imaris Track
  • Imaris Measurement Pro
  • Imaris Coloc
  • FilamentTracer
  • Imaris Cell
  • Imaris Vantage
  • Imaris Batch

Staff-in-charge:

- Josie
Back-up Support: - Anny/Samuel
Location: LIBSB 108

Hitachi H7700 Transmission Electron Microscope

DSC0560

Features: - Equipped with a tungsten filament emitter;

- Operates at accelerating voltage at 40 kV - 125 kV;

- Achieves lattice resolution of 0.144nm and particle image resolution of 0.35nm at 125 kV;

- Embedded with bottom-mount CCD;

- Allows ± 30 degrees image rotation and montage imaging.

Staff-in-charge:

- Josie
Back-up Support: - Anny / Samuel
Location: LIBSB 109

 

Hitachi SU8010 Scanning Electron Microscope with iXRF EDS System

 SU8010

Features: The Microscope

- Equipped for cold field emission;

- Operates at accelerating voltage at 0.5 - 30 kV; and beam deceleration at 0.1 – 2.5 kV;

- Image resolution : 1.0nm at 15kV; 1.3nm at 1kV;

- Fitted with 2 secondary electron detectors (upper & lower); can perform SE/BSE signal mixing function;

- Imaging magnifications:
×30 – ×2,000 (Low Mag mode)
×400 – ×800,000 (HC mode)

The EDS system

- Equipped with electronically cooled silicon drift detector;

- Sensor active area: 30 mm2;

- Resolution: 128eV/Be-Pu;

- For qualitative and semi-quantitative micro-analysis of elements on material and biological samples;

- Iridium Ultra Premium software package features spectra, mapping imaging and automation analysis tools.

Staff-in-charge:

- Josie
Back-up Support: - Anny / Samuel
Location: LIBSB 109