Modification of Unicryl composition for rapid polymerization at low temperature without alteration of immunocytochemical sensitivity.

We introduced a slight modification of Unicryl for fast polymerization at low temperature (in the range-20 degree C to-35 degree C) without modification of both physical properties and immunocytochemical yield. An UV initiator benzoin ethyl ether (BEE) is added at 0.05% concentration in neat resin during infiltration and final polymerization at-35 degree C. Immunogold labeling of amylase of mouse pancreas embedded in standard conditions recommended by the manufacturer or with our modification were compared by counting colloidal gold particles over zymogen granules using MACS, a specialized software dedicated to this operation. We noticed that addition of 0.05% BEE in Unicryl reduces the curing time to 16 h, which can be extended up to a maximum of 48 h at-35 degree C without noticeable modification of ultrastructural morphology, physical properties and immunocytochemical yield.