Re: Autofluorescence in silk

Posted by Sebastian Frische on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Autofluorescence-in-silk-tp725908p725970.html

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Silk is an aniosotropic protein fibre, so in polarized light it gives strong birefringence. I wonder if the use of a laser may be enough to elicit this to level where the material "light up".

best wishes

Sebastian

Den 15/08/2008 kl. 11.04 skrev Paul Rigby:

Search the CONFOCAL archive at http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal

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

 

 

Lektor, PhD

Sebastian Frische

Anatomisk Institut

Aarhus Universitet

Universitetsparken Bygn. 1234

8000 Århus C

Danmark

tlf [phone]

fax + 45 86198664

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