4_photonic Microscopy (tools) : Inverted microscope & phase contrast

Inverted microscope

A type of microscope where the objective lens is positioned below the sample, allowing for close proximity without compromising cell cultures.

Sterility concerns

Issues related to maintaining a sterile environment during objective lens insertion in traditional microscopy.

Phase contrast microscopy

A method used to generate contrast in living, unstained cells by utilizing phase shifts in light caused by differences in refractive index.

Refractive index

A measure of how much light is bent, or refracted, when entering a material; crucial for phase contrast microscopy to visualize cells.

Halo effect

A visual artifact in phase contrast microscopy, where edges appear to have a halo, potentially obscuring detail in thicker samples.

Multi-well dishes

Laboratory dishes used for cell culture; often insufficient in space for traditional objective lens insertion.

Light source

A component of the microscope that illuminates the sample for observation.

Condenser

A microscope component that focuses light onto the specimen; its adjustability affects image quality.

Phase contrast mechanism

The component on top of a microscope that generates contrast for viewing living, transparent cells.

Bright field microscopy

A standard microscopy method where the sample is illuminated directly, often resulting in less detail compared to phase contrast.

Vital dyes

Dyes used to stain live cells; although effective, they are cytotoxic and unsuitable for prolonged cell culture observations.

Filopodia and lamellipodia

Cellular structures that are more readily visualized with phase contrast microscopy compared to bright field microscopy.