Research Cores

Bioluminescence in vivo Imager

AMI HT from Spectral Instruments Imaging
AMI HT from Spectral Instruments Imaging

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
The Spectral Instruments Imaging AMI HT is a high-sensitivity optical imaging system for  bioluminescence  and  fluorescence  imaging of small animals, tissues, plants, and multiwell plates. The system enables sensitive detection and quantitative analysis of low-intensity optical signals, making it well suited for longitudinal in vivo studies and a wide range of preclinical imaging applications. Automated image acquisition, filter selection, and integrated analysis software provide a streamlined workflow for reproducible data collection and quantification.

  • 5 mouse capacity
  • LED fluorescence illumination
  • 10 wavelengths/10 filters
  • Mouse-friendly platform
  • Absolute calibration ensures quantifiable data
  • -90°C absolute cooled camera for maximum sensitivity

Fluorescent Microscopy

Keyence BZ-X710 All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope
Keyence BZ-X710 All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
Compact easy-to-use fluorescent microscope with high resolution monochrome CCD camera. With its fully motorized XYZ stage large samples can be captured and stitched fully automatically.

  • Inverted fluorescence phase contrast microscope
  • Bright field, Fluorescence, and Phase contrast observation modules
  • Electronic XYZ stage
  • Fluorescent filters for DAPI, GFP, and TexasRed
  • Monochrome CCD camera, 15 fps for monochrome recording, 4,080 x 3,060 max pixel resolution
  • Multi-color image capturing capability
  • Sectioning software module for Z-stack image capturing
  • Objectives:
    • Plan Apo λ 2x
    • Plan Apo λ 10x
    • Plan Fluor 20x
    • S Plan Fluor ELWD 40x
    • Plan Apo λ 60x Oil

Confocal Microscopy

Nikon A1R Confocal System on an Eclipse Ni Upright Microscope with Spectral Detector
Nikon A1R Confocal System on an Eclipse Ni Upright Microscope with Spectral Detector

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
The Nikon A1R confocal microscope is an easy to operate imaging system, used for a wide range of imaging applications. In addition to the four standard detectors, the system is equipped with a spectral detector enabling acquisition of up to 32 channels simultaneously.

  • Six laser lines: 405, 445, 488, 515, 561, 640
  • Four standard detectors (blue, green, red, far red)
  • Additional filter sets for imaging yellow and cyan fluorophores
  • Spectral detector (maximum 32 channels, 400-700 nm range)
  • High-resolution Galvano scanner with pixel size up to 4096 x 4096; scan speed 2 fps at standard mode and 10 fps in fast mode (at 512 x 512 pixels, bi-direction)
  • High definition 1K resonant scanner with maximum resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels (15 fps) and scanning speed up to 420 fps (at 512 x 32 pixels)
  • Motorized XY stage
  • Objectives:
    • Plan Fluor 4x
    • Plan Apo 10x
    • Plan Apo 20x
    • Plan Fluor 40x Oil
    • Plan Apo 60x Oil

Nikon A1R Confocal System on an Eclipse Ni Upright Microscope
Nikon A1R Confocal System on an Eclipse Ni Upright Microscope

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
The Nikon A1R confocal microscope system allows for the acquisition of four fluorescent channels simultaneously. For fast image acquisition the resonant scanner can achieve scanning speeds of up to 420 fps. Mounted on an upright microscope stand, this is the preferred system for fixed sample slides.

  • Four laser lines: 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 640 nm
  • Four standard detectors (blue, green, red, far red)
  • High-resolution Galvano scanner with pixel size up to 4096 x 4096; scan speed 2 fps at standard mode and 10 fps in fast mode (at 512 x 512 pixels, bi-direction)
  • High definition 1K resonant scanner with maximum resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels (15 fps) and scanning speed up to 420 fps (at 512 x 32 pixels)
  • Motorized XY stage
  • Objectives:
    • Plan Apo 10x
    • Plan Apo 20x
    • Plan Apo LWD 20x Water
    • Plan Apo 60x Oil

Nikon AXR Confocal System on an Eclipse Ti2-E inverted Microscope
Nikon AXR Confocal System on an Eclipse Ti2-E inverted Microscope

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
The Nikon AXR confocal microscope combines fast scanning with a large field of view. Mounted on an inverted microscope stand and equipped with four laser lines and four detectors, this system offers high versatility for a wide range of imaging applications.

  • Four laser lines: 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 640 nm
  • Four standard detectors (blue, green, red, far red)
  • 25 mm filed of view Resonant and Galvano scanner with pixel size up to 2048 x 2048; scan speed up to 720 fps
  • Motorized XY stage
  • Digital camera for fluorescent widefield imaging
  • Objectives:
    • Plan Apo 10x
    • Plan Apo 20x
    • Plan Apo LWD 40x
    • Plan Apo 60x Oil

Super-Resolution Microscopy

Nikon A1X Confocal Microscope with NSPARC on a Ti-E Inverted Microscope
Nikon A1X Confocal Microscope with NSPARC on a Ti-E Inverted Microscope

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
The Nikon AXR with NSPARC imaging system provides high-resolution imaging with exceptionally low noise. Its specialized detector enables an improved signal-to-noise ratio, allowing high-quality image acquisition at much lower excitation power. This helps preserve fluorescence and enables gentler imaging of live samples.

  • Fully motorized XY stage
  • Four laser lines: 408, 488, 561, 640
  • NSPARC detector unit - Lateral resolution 100 nm
  • Scan head with Galvano and Resonant scanner
  • Up to 2048 x 2048 pixels
  • Hamamatsu ORCA-Flash4.0 camera
  • Motorized Piezo Z stage for high-speed Z-direction scanning
  • Objectives:
    • Plan Apo λ 2x
    • Plan Apo λ 4x
    • Plan Apo λ 10x
    • Plan Apo VC 20x DIC N2
    • Plan Apo λ 60x Oil
  • Tokai Hit Stage top Incubator with temperature and CO2 control

Nikon N-SIM E Super-Resolution System with A1+ Confocal Microscope on the Eclipse Ti2 Inverted Microscope
Nikon N-SIM E Super-Resolution System with A1+ Confocal Microscope on the Eclipse Ti2 Inverted Microscope

Location: FAU Boca Raton

Overview:
This system combines confocal and super-resolution capabilities in one setup. Visualization of small intracellular structures and their function can be achieved using structured illumination (SIM) technology. The N-SIM E realizes double the spatial resolution of conventional optical microscopes (to approximately 115 nm)

  • Fully motorized XY stage
  • Motorized Piezo Z stage for high-speed Z-direction scanning
  • Four laser lines (408 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 640 nm) for confocal imaging
  • Four detectors: blue, green, red, far red; with two high sensitivity GaAsP detectors
  • High-resolution Galvano scanner with pixel size up to 4096 x 4096; scan speed 2 fps at standard mode and 10 fps in fast mode (at 512 x 512 pixels, bi-direction)
  • High definition 1K resonant scanner with maximum resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels (15 fps) and scanning speed up to 420 fps (at 512 x 32 pixels)
  • Objectives:
    • Plan Apo λ 10x
    • Plan Apo VC 20x
    • Plan Fluor 40x Oil
    • Apo 60x λS Oil
    • SR HP Apo TIRF 100x Oil
  • Hamamatsu ORCA-Flash4.0 camera
  • LU-N3-SIM laser unit with three wavelength lasers (488/561/640 nm), enabling super-high resolution imaging in multiple colors; lateral resolution 115 nm and axial resolution 269 nm in 3D-SIM mode (at 488 nm excitation wavelength)
  • Tokai Hit Stage top Incubator with temperature and CO2 control
  • N-SIM analysis software

Multi-Photon Microscopy

Nikon A1R Multiphoton with FN1 Upright Microscope
Nikon A1R Multiphoton with FN1 Upright Microscope

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
Nikon's A1R multiphoton microscope enables high speed, deep tissue imaging in live organisms with great sensitivity and clarity. The system features an ultra-high speed resonant scanner capable of up to 420 fps.

  • Upright FN1 microscope
  • Prior high precision motorized ZDeck Quick Adjust Platform System
  • Coherent Chameleon Vision II Ti:Sapphire tunable laser (680 to 1080 nm)
  • 450 µm Piezo-Z nosepiece for high-speed Z-stack acquisition
  • Hybrid scanner head with ultrahigh-speed resonant scanner and high-resolution Galvano scanner
  • Four-channel high sensitivity GaAsP detector
  • 25x CFI APO LWD, 1.1 NA, 2 mm WD Water Immersion Objective

Light-Sheet Microscopy

SLICE Light Sheet Microscope from MBF Bioscience
SLICE Light Sheet Microscope from MBF Bioscience

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
The MBF Bioscience SLICE is a compact light sheet fluorescence microscope designed for rapid, high-resolution three-dimensional imaging of cleared tissues and large biological specimens. By illuminating samples with a thin sheet of light, the system enables fast volumetric imaging while minimizing photobleaching and phototoxicity. The SLICE is well suited for imaging intact organs, neural circuits, vascular networks, and other complex biological structures, providing high-quality 3D datasets for visualization and quantitative analysis.

  • Objective lenses: 5x, 10x
  • Lateral resolution: 0.75 µm (with 10x)
  • 3 laser lines (455, 520, 640 nm)
  • Imaging speed up to 17 frames per second
  • Imaging solution – aqueous buffers and organic solvents

blaze
Miltenyi UltraMicroscope Blaze

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
For fast acquisition of large samples such as whole mouse brains, organs, or other cleared tissues, the UltraMicroscope Blaze is equipped with LightSpeed Mode. This light-sheet microscope is highly user-friendly and enables imaging of up to four different fluorescent channels.

  • Uni- and bi-directional illumination with 1-6 sheets
  • Objective lenses: 1.1x, 4x, and 14x reaching magnifications of 0.66x to 30x when adding magnifier lenses
  • Resolution down to 0.5 µm
  • 4 laser lines (488, 561, 639, and 785 nm)
  • 4.2 Megapixel sCMOS camera
  • Cuvette (standard sample chamber) capacity 497 ml
  • Imaging solution – aqueous buffers and organic solvents
  • Batch imaging mode – multiple samples can be imaged in one session

Digital Spatial Profiler

nanoString GeoMX Digital Spatial Profiler
nanoString GeoMX Digital Spatial Profiler

Location: FAU Jupiter

Overview:
The GeoMx DSP is a flexible and scalable platform for spatial biology. GeoMX is the only spatial biology platform that non-destructively profiles expression of RNA and protein from distinct tissue compartments and cell populations with an automated and scalable workflow that integrates with standard histology staining. Spatially profile the whole transcriptome and 570+ protein targets separately or simultaneously from your choice of sample inputs: whole tissue sections, tissue microarrays (TMAs), or organoids.

  • Sample throughput up to 8 slides/day
  • 20x 0.45 NA objective for locating ROIs (regions of interest)
  • Four fluorescent channels with emission wavelength filters of 516/223, 564/15, 623/30, 683/30
  • ROI selection tools for selecting regions for sample collection
  • 4.2 Megapixel sCMOS camera
  • Data analysis and visualization software included

Image Analysis Workstations

The Advanced Cell Imaging Core offers a variety of image analysis workstations for 2D and 3D image analysis. The following software tools are available free of charge for users of the Core:

Nikon NIS-Elements Advanced Research with 2D/3D Deconvolution module

Oxford Instruments Imaris 3D/4D Image Analysis Software

MBF Bioscience Neurolucida Neuron tracing and analysis software

MBF Bioscience NeuroInfo (whole brain investigation of circuits, neuronal populations, and biochemical marker expression)

Miltenyi Biotec MACS® iQ View – 3D Large Volume

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