Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.
Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.
Commun Biol. 2021 Nov 4;4(1):1261. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02779-7.
Simultaneous longitudinal imaging across multiple conditions and replicates has been crucial for scientific studies aiming to understand biological processes and disease. Yet, imaging systems capable of accomplishing these tasks are economically unattainable for most academic and teaching laboratories around the world. Here, we propose the Picroscope, which is the first low-cost system for simultaneous longitudinal biological imaging made primarily using off-the-shelf and 3D-printed materials. The Picroscope is compatible with standard 24-well cell culture plates and captures 3D z-stack image data. The Picroscope can be controlled remotely, allowing for automatic imaging with minimal intervention from the investigator. Here, we use this system in a range of applications. We gathered longitudinal whole organism image data for frogs, zebrafish, and planaria worms. We also gathered image data inside an incubator to observe 2D monolayers and 3D mammalian tissue culture models. Using this tool, we can measure the behavior of entire organisms or individual cells over long-time periods.
同时对多个条件和重复进行纵向成像，对于旨在了解生物过程和疾病的科学研究至关重要。然而，能够完成这些任务的成像系统在全球大多数学术和教学实验室都无法实现经济上的可行性。在这里，我们提出了 Picroscope，这是第一个使用现成的和 3D 打印材料主要制成的低成本同时进行纵向生物成像系统。Picroscope 与标准的 24 孔细胞培养板兼容，并捕获 3D z 堆叠图像数据。Picroscope 可以远程控制，允许进行自动成像，而无需研究人员进行最小干预。在这里，我们在一系列应用中使用了这个系统。我们收集了青蛙、斑马鱼和水螅虫的纵向全生物体图像数据。我们还在孵育器内收集图像数据，以观察 2D 单层和 3D 哺乳动物组织培养模型。使用这个工具，我们可以测量整个生物体或单个细胞在长时间内的行为。
