Spinning disk or (new) point scanning confocals for live imaging of 3D engineered tissues?

Posted by Francesco Pasqualini on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Spinning-disk-or-new-point-scanning-confocals-for-live-imaging-of-3D-engineered-tissues-tp7590297.html

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Hi,
I will start my ERC-funded lab in Italy in 2020, which means I am fortunate
to be shopping for a confocal instrument right about now.

Since I do mostly live experiments (more details below) I was going to get
a spinning disk system. But, I realized that the new scanning confocals are
also relatively fast and gentle. The question is how much (if at all)
slower and harsher are they with respect to spinning disks?

More details:
- I do a lot of live experiments (traction force microscopy and
voltage/calcium-sensitive dyes) on engineered cells (300x300 um FOV) and
tissues (600x600 um FOV) in 2D or 3D (<300 um thick) that I complement with
immunostainings after fixation. Needed acquisition rates go from <1 fps to
100s depending on the application.

- Originally, I was oriented towards a spinning disk confocal
(Yokogawa/SORA, Crest) and was looking at ways to deal with the issues of
confocality on the 3D tissue (600x600x300 um volumes) case. But, I realized
all vendors have new point scanning confocal (980+Airyscan2, FV3000, A1R)
with resonant scanners that acquire full frames/ROIs at 10s/100s of fps

- Of course, structured illumination (Elyra-7, N-SIM) and light-sheet
microscopes (QuVi) are also appealing but relatively untested in my
applications of interests....

The application specialists from all vendors in my area have been great to
work with but since my lab is not up and running, yet, I can't demo these
systems directly. Therefore, I could use help and feedback, especially from
people who have had related experiences in the recent past.

Thanks,
Francesco

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Francesco S. Pasqualini
Visiting Professor University of Pavia
Associate Harvard University

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