New Live-Cell Imaging service

The StemCell Facility is pleased to announce the expansion of its live-cell imaging capabilities with the installation of a new environmental control system that enables continuous monitoring and recording of cell cultures under physiologically relevant conditions.

The new setup features an OKOLab H301-KF-KOEHLER live-imaging chamber equipped with precise temperature, humidity, and CO₂ control, allowing long-term observation of pluripotent stem cell (PSC) cultures without disturbing the culture environment. Combined with a Nikon TS2-FL Inverted Fluorescence Microscope (385/470/560 nm LED illumination) and a TP8000UHD 4K Ultra HD CMOS camera, the system can capture high-quality time-lapse videos of cellular processes in real time.

At present, facility users can request 24-hour time-lapse recordings of their samples. The imaging parameters can be tailored to individual experimental needs, including the frequency of image acquisition. This flexibility allows researchers to optimize video smoothness and data collection according to the duration of the experiment, the type of sample, and specific scientific objectives.

The chamber is compatible with a variety of culture formats through dedicated adapters for 12-well plates, 96-well plates, and culture dishes, providing versatility for a broad range of applications.

Looking ahead, the facility plans to further expand this service following the arrival of an additional microscope. This upgrade will enable multi-day and even multi-week continuous recordings, opening new opportunities for studying dynamic biological processes such as stem cell differentiation, colony formation, cell migration, and long-term culture behavior.

Time-lapse imaging offers researchers a powerful tool to visualize and quantify cellular changes that are difficult to capture through conventional endpoint analyses. Continuous observation can reveal critical events, temporal patterns, and cellular heterogeneity throughout the course of an experiment.

Currently, this live-cell imaging service is available free of charge for all StemCell Facility users. Researchers interested in incorporating time-lapse imaging into their projects are encouraged to contact the facility team for further information and experimental planning.