Re: Autofluorescence in silk

Posted by Zucker.Robert on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Autofluorescence-in-silk-tp725908p1372796.html

Hi Paul
How are you ?
playing with Zeiss 510  unmixing and it is great.
what are you buying? I have some views on the subject. -
did you have luck with the detergent?
I am trying it again.
bob


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Hi All,
One of our users has a question about silk and autofluorescence –

“I am culturing keratinocyte cells on several different varieties of
silk (from silk worms) and have discovered that in general, the silk
exhibits quite strong autofluorescence (particularly at 488nm
excitation).  Does anybody have any suggestions to help quench this
autofluorescence?”,

The normal treatments (Sudan black, Pontamine Sky Blue, Sodium
Borohydride, Ammonium Chloride), for one reason or another, are not
suitable or relevant in our system. I have suggested trying spectral
unmixing as a possible solution, but if there are any other
suggestions…..

Does anyone know what the chemistry is in silk that might lead to the
autofluorescence?

All comments/thoughts appreciated.
Regards
Paul

Dr Paul Rigby
Senior Lecturer
Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (M510)
The University of Western Australia
35 Stirling Highway
Crawley  WA  6009
Ph (61-8) 9346 2819
Fx (61-8) 9346 3469