How Does Live Cell Imaging System Work?

In live cell imaging, living cells are observed over a period of time under a live cell imaging microscope. To allow for automated live cell imaging workflows, today' s live cell imaging solutions mainly consist of a fully motorized research microscope, including a digital microscope camera and a dedicated software solution to design and run the experiment as well as to analyze the data. Images of a single field of view or even of the whole sample area are recorded sequentially after certain time points over a longer period of time. To keep cells in physiological conditions throughout the experiment, live cell imaging systems are typically equipped with incubation chambers to precisely control temperature, humidity and CO2 concentration. It is essential that these parameters can be adjusted to the cells' requirements and that they can be kept at a constant level for the entire period of the experiment.

Cells can be imaged with different imaging modes such as brightfield microscopy, supported for example by phase contrast methods. In addition, several live cell imaging techniques have evolved using specific live cell imaging fluorescent dyes to be able to identify cells of interest and also to selectively monitor development, differentiation or viability of the cells. Thus, live cell fluorescence microscopy is a helpful tool which can visualize a lot of additional information on the individual cells. Live cell super resolution microscopy or 3D live cell imaging provide additional depth and insights into the analysis of living cells.

The recorded images can be opened, viewed and analyzed using dedicated live cell analysis software packages. The series of single images can be turned into live cell imaging videos and the software algorithms provide detailed analyses of cells over time such as trajectories of migrating cells. Time is therefore not just another dimension in live cell imaging, but it allows to perceive processes which we would otherwise not be able to sense.