Bio-Imaging Facility at NCCS, under the Pune-BioCluster initiative, aims to establish a platform with the state-of-the-art imaging capabilities. The centre has five point scanning and three spinning disc confocal microscopes with diverse and advanced capabilities to cater to the needs of scientists from academic and private research laboratories.
It also envisages the importance of developing highly-skilled manpower by conducting regular national level and local workshops to train researchers with advanced microscopic techniques including advanced light microscopy, confocal microscopy, digital image processing of microscope images, and related laboratory practices.

• Provides a state-of-the-art facility for catering to the needs of researchers with diverse imaging capabilities
• Conducts national level and local training programmes to develop skilled manpower in Bio imaging

NCCS Bio-Imaging Facility Instruments:

Pune Biocluster Project funded:

1. Zeiss LSM880 Confocal Microscope with AiryScan and ELYRA P.1
• This imaging system comprises of AxioObserver 7 microscope with AiryScan and Elyra P.1.
• Airyscan is a 32-channel GaAsP-PMT area detector that collects a pinhole-plane image at every scan position. Each detector element functions as a single, very small pinhole.
• ELYRA P.1 localizes small structures and even single molecules achieving resolutions of 20nm laterally and 50nm axially
• Objectives: 10x, 20x, 40x (oil), 63x (oil), 100x (oil) Alpha Planapochromat
• Lasers: For confocal- 405nm, 488nm, 458nm, 514nm, 561nm, 594nm, 633nm; For Elyra P.1- 405nm, 488nm, 561nm, 640nm

2. Olympus SPIN SR 10 - Spinning Disk High Resolution Microscope
• This Spinning disc confocal microscope is equipped with YOKOGAWA W1- SoRa scan-unit.
• It can attain high resolution minimum 250 nm (XY) and 800 nm in Z. Super-resolution mode gives XY resolution of 120nm and Z of 540nm approximately.
• The system has 2 high-speed cameras for simultaneous imaging of atleast two dyes. • Objectives: 10X to 100X.
• Lasers: 405nm, 488nm, 514nm, 561nm, 640nm

3. Olympus Multiphoton microscope
• Olympus FVMPE-RS multiphoton laser scanning microscope is available for deep tissue imaging of fixed samples and live whole animals.
• This system features a tunable infrared laser (MaiTai, 680~1040nm) to excite multiple fluorescence dyes optimally for precise multispectral imaging.
• It also provides resonance scanning mode for high speed imaging and laser light stimulation for photomanipulation of fluorophores such as FRAP and optogenetics.
• With dedicated multiphoton-specific objectives (10x and 25x water dipping), these features allow users to image the large samples (up to 8 mm thickness) in multicolor 4D.
• Multicolor Imaging filter cubes: FVG (violet & green) and FGR (green & red) are available.
• The system is equipped with two GaAsP PMTs and also has 3D deconvolution and rendering functions.

4. Leica Stellaris 8 STED Microscope
• This microscope is a tool for advanced imaging applications, offering high-resolution, multicolor, and live-cell imaging capabilities.
• This imaging system combines confocal microscopy with Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) super- resolution capabilities with sub-30 nm resolution, having Tunable excitation (440–790 nm).
• STED microscopy can achieve a lateral resolution of ~30–50 nm and axial resolution of ~120–150 nm.
• Some unique features are Power HyD detectors with high photon detection efficiency (HyD S & HyD X), real-time analysis of molecular dynamics by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) and TauSense.
• It also has FAst Lifetime CONtrast (FALCON), a FLIM solution for fast acquisition which combines STED with fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) to separate fluorophores based on their lifetimes.
• LIGHTNING Provides enhanced resolution and contrast in real- time imaging, capturing fine structural details.
• Objectives: 10x-100x and a special 93x STED objective.
• Lasers: 405nm laser, Tunable White Light Laser (WLL) 440-790 nm, 589nm and 775nm Depletion Lasers.

5. Nikon Structured Illumination Microscope/ X-Light V3 and DeepSIM system:

• X-Light V3 system is a spinning disk confocal system offering precise 3D sectioning at the highest speed and largest field of view maintaining uniform illumination.
• The DeepSIM module allows researchers to seamlessly enhance their imaging capabilities from widefield to confocal to super-resolution.
• The 2D Lattice SIM technology behind DeepSIM enhances the illumination efficiency and homogeneity with minimal phototoxicity in live cell imaging experiments.
• Objectives: 10x, 20x, 40x, 40x Silicon, 60x oil and SR HP Apo 100x oil.
• Lasers: 405nm, 488nm, 555nm, 640nm

User Charges for Zeiss880 and SpinSR10:

Charges based on number of slots used where one hour is considered as one slot.
Users from other educational institutions: Rs.2000/- per slot + 18% GST.
Users from Industry: Rs.3000/- per slot + 18% GST.
Download Sample Request Form: Download form from here

Note:User charges for Leica Stellaris8 STED, Olympus Multiphoton and Nikon V3-DeepSIM are to be finalized.