In 1987 the Electron Microscopy Society of America (EMSA) going to drive important scientific discoveries across wide areas under the leadership of J. P. Revel (Cal Tech) initiated a major of physiology, cellular biology and neurobiology. They had been program to present a discussion of recent advances in light looking for a forum in which they could advance the state of microscopy as part of the annual meeting. The result was three the art of confocal microscopy, alert manufacturers to the lim special LM sessions at the Milwaukee meeting in August 1988: itations of current instruments, and catalyze progress toward The LM Forum, organized by me, and Symposia on Confocal new directions in confocal instrument development. LM, organized by G. Schatten (Madison), and on Integrated These goals were so close to those of the EMSA project that Acoustic/LM/EM organized by C. Rieder (Albany). In addition, the two groups decided to join forces with EMSA to provide there was an optical micro-analysis session emphasizing Raman the organization and the venue for a Confocal Workshop and techniques, organized by the Microbeam Analysis Society, for NSF to provide the financial support for the speakers expenses a total of 40 invited and 30 contributed papers on optical tech and for the publication of extended abstracts.

This third edition of a classic text in biological microscopy includes detailed descriptions and in-depth comparisons of parts of the microscope itself, digital aspects of data acquisition and properties of fluorescent dyes, the techniques of 3D specimen preparation and the fundamental limitations, and practical complexities of quantitative confocal fluorescence imaging. Coverage includes practical multiphoton, photodamage and phototoxicity, 3D FRET, 3D microscopy correlated with micro-MNR, CARS, second and third harmonic signals, ion imaging in 3D, scanning RAMAN, plant specimens, practical 3D microscopy and correlated optical tomography.

This newly updated second edition details the latest instrumentation and applications of the confocal microscope. This edition features 21 new chapters and includes information on preparing living specimens for the confocal microscope.

This book offers a comprehensive selection of essays by leading experts, which covers all aspects of modern imaging, from its application and up-scaling to its development. The chapter content ranges from the basics to the most complex overview of method and protocols. There is ample practical and detailed "how-to" content on important, but rarely addressed topics. This first edition features all-colour-plate chapters, licensed software and a unique, continuously updated website forum.

This volume of the acclaimed Methods in Cell Biology series provides specific examples of applications of confocal microscopy to cell biological problems. It is an essential guide for students and scientists in cell biology, neuroscience, and many other areas of biological and biomedical research, as well as research directors and technical staff of microscopy and imaging facilities. An integrated and up-to-date coverage on the many various techniques and uses of the confocal microscope (CM). - Includes detailed protocols accessible to new users - Details how to set up and run a "Confocal Microscope Core Facility" - Contains over 170 figures

Fluorescence microscopy images can be easily integrated into current video and computer image processing systems. People like visual observation; they like to watch a television or computer screen, and fluorescence techniques are thus becoming more and more popular. Since true in vivo experiments are simple to perform, samples can be directly seen and there is always the possibility of manipulating the samples during the experiments; it is an ideal technique for biology and medicine. Images are obtained by a classical (now called wide-field) fluorescence microscope, a confocal scanning microscope, upright or inverted, with epifluorescence or transmission. Computerized image processing may improve definition, and remove glare and scattered light signal. It also makes it possible to compute ratio images (ratio imaging both in excitation and in emission) or lifetime imaging. Image analysis programs may supply a great deal of additional data of various types, starting with calculations of the number of fluorescent objects, their shapes, brightness, etc. Fluorescence microscopy data may be complemented by classical measurement in the cuvette yr by flow cytometry.

As part of the Reliable Lab Solutions series, Techniques in Confocal Microscopy brings together chapters from volumes 302, 307 and 356 of Methods in Enzymology. It documents many diverse uses for confocal microscopy in disciplines that broadly span biology. - Documents many diverse uses for confocal microscopy in disciplines that broadly span biology - The methods presented include shortcuts and conveniences not included in the initial publications - Techniques are described in a context that allows comparisons to other related methodologies - Methodologies are laid out in a manner that stresses their general applicability and reports their potential limitations

With contributions by numerous experts

In Confocal Microscopy Methods and Protocols, Stephen Paddock and a highly skilled panel of experts lead the researcher using confocal techniques from the bench top, through the imaging process, to the journal page. They concisely describe all the key stages of confocal imaging-from tissue sampling methods, through the staining process, to the manipulation, presentation, and publication of the realized image. Written in a user-friendly, nontechnical style, the methods specifically cover most of the commonly used model organisms: worms, sea urchins, flies, plants, yeast, frogs, and zebrafish. Centered in the many biological applications of the confocal microscope, the book makes possible the successful imaging of both fixed and living specimens using primarily the laser scanning confocal microscope. The powerful hands-on methods collected in Confocal Microscopy Methods and Protocols will help even the novice to produce first-class cover-quality confocal images.

The discovery of uniform latex particles by polymer chemists of the Dow Chemical Company nearly 50 years ago opened up new exciting fields for scientists and physicians and established many new biomedical applications. Many in vitro diagnostic tests such as the latex agglutination tests, analytical cell and phagocytosis tests have since become rou tine. They were all developed on the basis of small particles bound to biological active molecules and fluorescent and radioactive markers. Further developments are ongoing, with the focus now shifted to applications of polymer particles in the controlled and di rected transport of drugs in living systems. Four important factors make microspheres interesting for in vivo applications: First, biocompatible polymer particles can be used to transport known amounts of drug and re lease them in a controlled fashion. Second, particles can be made of materials which bio degrade in living organisms without doing any harm. Third, particles with modified surfaces are able to avoid rapid capture by the reticuloendothelial system and therefore en hance their blood circulation time. Fourth, combining particles with specific molecules may allow organ-directed targeting.