D'FACTU

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D'FACTU

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Darmstadts Fluoreszenzmikroskopie Ausbildungs Center an der Technischen Universität

The D’FACTU core education center is aimed to provide the basics for teaching fundamental principles and modern applications in fluorescence microscopy. The education center is open for all departments and was initiated by the departments of Chemistry (FB 7), Material and Earth Sciences (FB11) and Biology (FB10).

Aim

Microscopy in general and fluorescence microscopy in particular are essential techniques in natural sciences and are used in manufacturing, high throughput screening, biomedical application as well as high content and super resolution analyses. Hence, modern student education comprises often courses in microscopy. So far these courses were restricted to classical transmitted light or reflected light microscopy. In contrast modern techniques and applications make extensive use of fluorescence microscopy to enhance the capability of this technique. So far it was not possible to teach fluorescence microscopy in student courses since the existing microscopes are restricted in numbers and extensively used in research. Therefore D’FACTU was established to provide state of the art fluorescence microscopes and to prepare the students with excellent skills for their further career development.

The D’FACTU equipment is available for courses upon request.

Axiovert-Bio
Image from Zeiss.de

Equipment

The D’FACTU core education center is equipped with 13 inverted fluorescence microscopes. Additionally each microscope is connected to a sensitive black and white CCD camera and a laptop with matching acquisition/analysis software. All microscopes have a standard set of four fluorescence channels. Additionally, we have a color camera setup and epi-fluorescence filter cube, e.g., for material sciences.

Detailed description of the microscopes

Microscope
 Zeiss Axio Vert.A1
Condensor LD-Condensor 0.4
Phase contrast Ph1
Illumination Trans-illumination:
  • 12 V Halogen lamp
Fluorescence illumination:
  • 4 LED modules:
    • LED-Module 385 nm
    • LED-Module 470 nm
    • LED-Module 540-580 nm
    • LED-Module 625 nm
Filter Cubes
(e.g. classical dyes) 		Alternative:
  • epi-fluorescence filter cube
Objectives
  • N-Achroplan 5x NA 0.15 Ph1 long working distance (a=12.0mm)
  • A-Plan 20x NA 0.35 Ph1 long working distance (a=4.3mm)
  • EC Plan-Neofluar 63x/1.25 Oil (no phase contrast) (a=0.1mm)
Camera
  • AxioCam ICm11,388 x 1,038 pixels
    4.65 μm x 4.65 μm pixel size
    12 bit dynamic range
Alternative:
  • AxioCam ICC1 color camera
Software
  • ZEN lite 2011
  • ZEN lite Module Multi Channel

Usage

If you are interested in using the microscopes in your course please contact:
and book in the online booking system via TUBIC: http://130.83.98.149/.

Funding

The D’FACTU core education center is funded by the following bodies:

  • Mittel zur Verbesserung der Qualität der Lehre und der Studienbedingungen (QSL) der TU Darmstadt
  • QSL Funds of the Departments of Chemistry (FB 7), Material and Earth Sciences (FB11) and Biology (FB10) at the TU Darmstadt
  • Hochschulpakt 2020

Further Readings

A good starting point for the principles and applications of microscopy and fluorescence microscopy can be found at the “Optical Microscopy Primer” website: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/ or at the microscopy information page of the AG Cardoso with a focus on fluorescence microscopy in cell biology: http://www.cardoso-lab.org/pages/microscopy.htm .