Live cell imaging is particularly well-supported by the CELENA® S, which offers a dedicated time-lapse mode for observing live cells in a controlled environment. This mode allows researchers to monitor cellular processes over time and generate time-lapse videos complete with annotations. The system’s onboard data analysis tools enable users to measure and annotate images directly, with data easily saved either to the system’s onboard storage or exported via a USB drive. For detailed imaging of cellular structures, the CELENA® S provides Z-stack imaging capabilities, allowing users to capture multiple focal planes and either stack them into a single composite image or compile them into a video for comprehensive analysis.

The CELENA® S is highly versatile and customizable, accommodating a wide range of imaging needs. It features an onstage incubation system that maintains precise control over the imaging environment, including temperature, humidity, and gas composition. The temperature controller separately heats the plate and lid of the stage incubator to prevent condensation and ensure accurate temperature regulation. Additionally, the CELENA® S offers a selection of interchangeable filter cubes and objectives, including over twelve hard-coated LED fluorescence filters and infinity-corrected objectives with magnifications ranging from 1.25X to 100X. A range of vessel holders and LED filter cube options are available to tailor the system to specific experimental needs, making the CELENA® S an adaptable and powerful tool for diverse cell imaging applications.

The CELENA® X excels in fully automated plate and slide imaging, featuring automated vessel handling and scanning through a motorized XYZ stage, filter cube stage, and objective turret. Its laser autofocus ensures rapid, reproducible focusing while minimizing phototoxicity and photobleaching, which is crucial for maintaining cell viability during imaging. For live cell assays, the onstage incubation system provides precise control over physiological and non-physiological conditions, supporting a variety of experimental setups. The system supports four imaging modes: fluorescence in four channels, brightfield, color brightfield, and phase contrast, accommodating diverse imaging needs and experimental requirements.

The CELENA® X’s powerful and user-friendly software interface simplifies the setup of imaging protocols and integrates seamlessly with data analysis processes. Its customizable high content analysis capabilities allow for the creation of tailored workflows that can handle both straightforward fixed cell assays and complex, time-lapse live cell assays. The system supports a wide array of applications, including cell counting, cytotoxicity assays, transfection efficiency, wound healing, apoptosis, confluency, calcium signaling, phagocytosis, cell cycle analysis, stitching, and 3D cell modeling. The CELENA® X is designed to be versatile and adaptable, with comprehensive vessel holder options, objective selection guides, and LED filter cube guides available to ensure that the system meets all of your cell imaging needs.

The process begins with hydrogel infusion using the X-CLARITY™ Hydrogel Solution Kit (C1310X). This pre-tested kit provides a uniform and consistent approach to tissue-hydrogel hybridization. The kit includes the X-CLARITY™ Hydrogel Solution, an acrylamide-based solution used to create polyacrylamide, and the X-CLARITY™ Polymerization Initiator, a thermal free radical initiator known as VA-044. Together, these components ensure that the hydrogel matrix is uniformly integrated into the tissue, setting the stage for effective clearing.

Following hydrogel infusion, tissue-hydrogel hybridization is carried out using the X-CLARITY™ Polymerization System (C20001). This standalone, automated system simplifies the critical process of hybridization, allowing for efficient and high-throughput sample processing. Multiple samples can be processed simultaneously in multi-well plates or conical tubes. The system offers precise control over polymerization parameters, including vacuum strength, temperature, and timing, all managed through an intuitive touchscreen interface. This automation streamlines the hybridization process, ensuring consistency and reliability in sample preparation.

The next phase involves lipid removal, which is efficiently managed by the X-CLARITY™ Tissue Clearing System II (C30001). This all-in-one system is designed for rapid and effective electrophoretic tissue clearing. The system’s advanced design accelerates lipid extraction while preserving the structural integrity of the tissue. For instance, it can clear an entire mouse brain in just six hours, a remarkable eight times faster than previous technologies. The clearing process is controlled via a user-friendly touchscreen interface, and in ETC (electrophoretic tissue clearing) mode, platinum-plated electrodes generate an electric field to enhance lipid removal. The system features built-in temperature control to maintain consistent buffer temperatures, and a continuously circulated buffer ensures consistent buffering capacity and removal of clearing byproducts. This advanced setup guarantees efficient, rapid, and uniform tissue clearing, significantly improving the overall workflow for high-resolution imaging studies.