Overcoming Imaging Barriers in Organoid and Live Cell Analysis: What Users Are Asking
As organoids become key model systems in preclinical drug validation, advanced imaging and analytical techniques are essential for capturing meaningful insights into the biological processes and molecular interactions within these 3D systems. Accurate data enables a deeper understanding of drug responses across tissue, cellular and molecular levels, crucial for developing safe, effective therapies.
While microscopy remains the primary method for evaluating organoid physiology, extracting actionable information from these complex 3D systems still faces multiple technical challenges.
We address the most common questions about imaging in 3D biology, including what tools are available, what hurdles remain and how innovative visualization solutions are reshaping biomedical research.
1. Why is image acquisition challenging in 3D organoid and live cell systems?
The 3D nature of organoids and live cells complicates image acquisition.
- High-magnification objectives are designed to use water as an immersion medium. Placing water between the objective and the sample is cumbersome and can lead to changes in the focus and position of the sample.
- Long exposure times often lead to over-exposed images, and manual interpretation can be ambiguous due to the complexity of the structures.
- Exposure to light and the use of fluorophores can influence cells. High doses of light can cause DNA damage and lead to photobleaching.
2. How does Leica Mica Microhub improve data acquisition?
Mica streamlines imaging with automated workflows and can simultaneously capture multiple fluorescent labels, including widefield or confocal images, without moving the sample. This saves time, ensures consistency and delivers more accurate data collection.
We See a Way to train users 50% faster to image organoids and 3D cultures.
Leica Microsystems | Mica
3. How does Mica Microhub capture 4x more data?
Mica is powered by patented FluoSync technology that simultaneously captures up to four fluorescent labels in one acquisition, ensuring comprehensive data collection. This eliminates spatiotemporal mismatches during sequential imaging and provides 100% correlation between labels.
4. Why is minimizing phototoxicity important in organoids and live cell imaging?
Reducing phototoxicity prevents damage during imaging, preserving the physiological integrity of organoids and live cells and ensuring accurate analytical results.
5. How does the Leica Microsystems' THUNDER Imaging System ensure high-quality imaging for 3D specimens?
The relative thickness of tissue sections often causes stray light, which interferes with the desired signal and reduces image clarity. THUNDER Imaging uses computational clearing to reduce background blur, enhancing the clarity and quality of tissue images. The system’s high sensitivity minimizes phototoxicity and photobleaching, allowing for higher throughput while maintaining optimal imaging conditions.
Mica
This changes everything.
More than a highly automated microscope, Mica unites widefield and confocal imaging in a sample protecting, incubating environment. With the simple push of a button, you have everything you need - all in one place - to supercharge fluorescence imaging workflows and get meaningful scientific results faster.
6. How does Mica Microhub improve live cell experiments?
Mica provides a climate-controlled environment with regulated temperature, CO2 and humidity, ensuring optimal conditions for live cell imaging. This preserves cell integrity during imaging.
7. How can automation transform microscopy workflows?
Mica Microhub streamlines imaging by combining intelligent automation with AI-driven analysis, cutting over 60% of workflow steps. Its automated settings and guided processes make microscopy more accessible, helping researchers achieve faster, more accurate results with minimal effort. Resulting in reduced time from sample to insight and enhanced reproducibility across every experiment.
8. What imaging capabilities does Mica Microhub offer?
Mica unifies transmitted and fluorescence light imaging modalities. You can select from multiple imaging modalities within one Microhub, including widefield, confocal, THUNDER Imaging, LIGHTNING, Z-stacks, time-lapse and more. It delivers efficient imaging alongside ideal climate-controlled conditions for live cells and 3D models.
The Life Sciences companies of Danaher provide imaging and spatial biology solutions that aim to overcome the complexities of 3D organoid analysis, thereby streamlining workflows, reducing phototoxicity and enhancing reproducibility. Connect with an expert to learn more