A volunteer and collaborative effort to bring information about shared microscopy facilities to the University of Arizona and the community.

Nikon AX R Confocal Microscope

Nikon AX R Confocal Microscope

The Nikon AX R is an inverted laser-scanning confocal microscope and is our most capable instrument. The AX R has both a traditional, high resolution Galvano scanner and a highspeed Resonant scanner with up to 2K X 2K resolution, making this instrument capable of both high resolution and the largest selection of laser lines (405/445/488/568/594/640/730), allowing the microscope to excite up to 7 fluorophores with clear spectral separation. This instrument has the widest range of objectives lenses, including a long working distance 20x 0.7NA objective with 2.3mm of working distance and water immersion 40x 1.25NA objective with automated water immersion dispenser, ideal for long-term, live cell and multi-well plate imaging.

  • Confocal imaging with high speed Resonant scanner
  • Live cell imaging (humidity, temperature, and CO)
  • Advanced multichannel imaging (up to 7 fluorophores per sample)
  • Long-working 20x objective with 2.3mm working distance
  • Water-immersion 40x objective with automated water dispenser for multiwell imaging

Microscopy Shared Resource

The Microscopy Shared Resource (MSR) is an advanced microscopy facility located at the UA Cancer Center, servicing the immediate needs and future demands of biomedical and translational researchers.

The MSR provides several advanced instruments and services for all UA researchers, including confocal microscopy, super resolution microscopy, slide scanning, live cell imaging, multiphoton and intravital imaging, advanced image analysis, and much more. In addition to providing advanced instrumentation and imaging services, the core facility is a model of academic collaboration. MSR provides a space for on-site workshops, imaging seminars highlighting cutting-edge imaging approaches, demonstrations of next components/instruments, and support to the broader imaging community by building an “imaging culture” on campus.

UA Cancer Center, rooms 0930 (Levy building), 0960 (Salmon building)

Contact the Shared Resource for acknowledgement text. As an NIH P30 center, it is crucial that users of this Shared Resource acknowledge the support of the Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA023074).

Core Staff
Ghassan (Gus) Mouneimne, PhD Director, UACC Microscopy Shared Resource 520-626-4616 gmouneimne@arizona.edu
Marco Padilla-Rodriguez, PhD Manager, UACC Microscopy Shared Resource 520-626-6041 marco@arizona.edu
David Jones Jr Staff, UACC Microscopy Shared Resource djonesjr@arizona.edu
University of Arizona Cancer Center wordmark

This facility is administered by the University of Arizona Cancer Center (NCI P30 CA023074), Tucson, Arizona.

Nikon/Crest spinning disk confocal

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Nikon/Crest spinning disk confocal

Nikon Crest X-Light V2 Spinning-Disk Confocal

The Nikon “Crest” system is an inverted, spinning-disk confocal microscope that allows for high-throughput, confocal imaging of cell and tissue samples. The Crest Spinning-Disk is ideal for applications that require the increased resolution and contrast of confocal imaging with the speed of a widefield system. The Crest Spinning-Disk is equipped with a stage-top environmental incubator for live cell imaging and backilluminated sCMOS Prime95B camera, making it ideal for imaging living samples (cells, organoids, etc.) with minimal phototoxicity.

  • Objective lenses: Plan Fluor 4x/0.13, 10x/0.3; Plan Apochromat Lambda 20x/0.75, 40x/0.95, 60x/1.4 (oil)
  • Laser wavelengths: 405, 445, 473, 520, 545, 635nm
  • Fluorescence emission filters: 438/24, 485/20, 511/20, 560/25, 595/31, 685/40
  • To examine how your fluorescent labels would work with the lasers and filters, see: https://www.fpbase.org/microscope/NSt3svJtnMmkQL7aC69Hb3/
  • Additional brightfield color camera (Nikon DS-F13) and DIC (20x, 40x, 60x), Phase contrast (4x, 10x) imaging modes
  • Stagetop incubation chamber for long term imaging, with the capability of performing hypoxia studies.
  • CFY/YFP FRET imaging
  • Multiple Nikon software modules for multi-dimensional imaging, object tracking, image analysis, and deconvolution

DeltaVision RT Deconvolution Microscope

Deltavision microscope

The DeltaVision RT Deconvolution Microscopy System includes a research-grade inverted Olympus IX 70 microscope (with objectives from 4x to 100x, a cooled CCD camera, fiber-optic coupled mercury arc lamp, high-speed filter changers, electronic shutters and a high precision x-y-z positioning system) that is coupled to a computer workstation running Linux and vendor-supplied software called SoftWorX. Automated multiple wavelength (Blue, Green, Red and Far-red) and/or time lapse imaging experiments can be performed on either fixed tissues or cultured cells (Temperature and gas-mix can be controlled). The Microscope is capable of high resolution fluorescence images, 2D and 3D time-lapse, lower light intensity (compared to a confocal laser) means it is friendlier to live cells, has a greater dynamic range (4096 intensity levels) compared to older confocals, up to 4 probes per data set (limited to the available filter sets).

Training: Users must complete a minimum of 3 hours of training time before they will be allowed to use the instrument without assistance.

Fees: Trained users will be charged a fee of $22.00/hour for time on the instrument (microscope use and/or computation are currently the same fee). Training or Asssisted use are $38.00/hour (NOTE: these rates are internal UA only, updated Feb 2021).

Research Microscopy Core Service

Featuring a DeltaVision RT Deconvolution Fluorescence Microscope with full environmental controls.

Core Staff
Chris Pappas, PhD Director, Research Microscopy Core Service (College of Medicine) 520-626-5209 ctpappas@arizona.edu
Cellular & Molecular Medicine

This facility is administered by the Cellular & Molecular Medicine department of the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona.

Deltavision Elite deconvolution fluorescence microscope

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MCB Deltavision microscope

Inverted deconvolution fluorescence microscope with high precision XYZ motorized stage/focus control and an environmental enclosure for live cell imaging. Includes 10x-100x objectives, with two filter sets for fluorescent proteins and standard immuno labels. The motorized stage is equipped to image 96-well plates.

MCB Imaging facility

Light microscopy including deconvolution fluorescence, brightfield imaging with color and greyscale cameras, image analysis software.

Core Staff
Ross Buchan, PhD Director, Dept. Molecular & Cellular Biology Imaging Facility 520-971-7633 rbuchan@arizona.edu
Molecular & Cellualr Biology

This facility is administered by the Molecular and Cellular Biology department in the College of Science at the University of Arizona.

Biomedical Imaging Core

The Biomedical Imaging Core offers leading edge multiphoton and confocal microscopy for biomedical imaging and data collection. Conveniently located on the downtown Phoenix Biomedical Campus at the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix, the core is designed to be a community-based resource available to UA affiliated and non-affiliated faculty and researchers.

For questions, or to learn more about how the Biomedical Imaging Core can enhance your research, please contact Kurt Gustin

Arizona Biomedical Collaborative (ABC, Phoenix), room 170

Core Staff
Kurt Gustin, PhD Director, Biomedical Imaging Core (College of Medicine - Phoenix) 602-827-2155 kgustin@arizona.edu
Shenfeng Qiu, PhD Director, Biomedical Imaging Core (College of Medicine - Phoenix) 602-827-2173 sqiu@arizona.edu
College of Medicine Phoenix logo

This facility is administered by the College of Medicine - Phoenix, at the University of Arizona.

Zeiss LSM880 inverted confocal microscope

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Ziess LSM880 inverted confocal microscope

Zeiss LSM880 inverted confocal microscope 

The Zeiss LSM 880 inverted confocal microscope includes a 34-channel detector for spectral information, and 7 Laser lines (405, 458, 488, 514, 561, 594, 633nm). The system includes additional software modules for performing FRAP and control for the motorized stage toallow stitching together images from multiple fields of view into one larger image (montage), as well as visiting multiple sites during a time lapse acquisition.

The instrument includes an environmental chamber suitable for live cell imaging at a variety of temperatures, humidity and CO2 capabilities. The facility has wet lab space, cell culture incubators, and a biosafety hood in an adjacent room.

Objective lenses (with matching DIC prisms) include:

  • Plan-Apochromat 10x/0.45 (WD=2.0mm)
  • Plan-Apochromat 20x/0.8 (WD=0.55mm)
  • Plan-Apochromat 40x/1.3 Oil
  • Plan-Apochromat 63x/1.40 Oil

Our Resources page: http://microscopy.arizona.edu/ic-optical-resources

3i Spinning Disk Confocal

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3i Spinning Disk Confocal

3i Spinning Disk Confocal

The Spinning Disk Confocal on an inverted microscope base with DIC, transmitted light, epi-Fluorescence, spinning disk confocal and Total Internal Reflection (TIRF) capabilities. The system is equipped with two fluorescence laser excitation sources at 488 nm and 561 nm. The detector is a Photometrics Evolve CCD detector with optional Dual View attachment. Definite Focus is available for maintaining focus during timelapse experiments. The microscope has a 3i Vector TIRF illumination module with an Andor DU 897 EMCCD for surface specific fluorescence imaging of samples with evanescent wave excitation, penetration depth of ~100 nm n the Z direction. The Andor CCD can be used for epi-fluorescence imaging with DAPI, GFP, and CY3 filter blocks. A 150 um piezoelectric Z stage and Eppendorf Transferman micromanipulator are mounted on the system. A Plan-Neofluar 20X/0.5 NA air, Plan-Neofluar 40X/1.3 NA oil, a Plan-Apochromat 63X/1.4 NA oil, and a Alpha Plan-Apochromat 100X/1.46NA oil TIRF objectives are available. An OKO Lab environmental enclosure is on the microscope for temperature, gas (CO2, O2 and air/N2), and humidity control during experiments.

Imaging Modes: DIC, Transmitted Light, Epi-Fluorescence, Confocal Fluorescence and FRET, TIRF

PUBLICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: All Confocal images and data were collected in the W.M. Keck Center for Nano-Scale Imaging in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Arizona.  This instrument purchase was partially supported by Arizona Technology and Research Initiative Fund (A.R.S.§15-1648).