Biological & Medical
To monitor molecular information from single cells or complex biological tissue sections at a sub-cellular resolution, SR-IR microspectroscopy is useful to reveal biological variability, biochemical and structural effects of various chemicals and therapeutics as well as to monitor differences in cell cycles or the cellular uptake. Formalin fixation will be useful of biochemical component preservation.
In order to prepare proper biological samples upon experiment which most of them require IR imaging method, it depends on type of those samples.
Tissue sample
For the fresh tissue, it has to be sectioned at 5 – 7 micron-thickness depending on its characteristics and then be deposited on BaF2 or CaF2 windows and stored in a desiccator overnight. Please keep in mind that the samples should not be treated with other chemicals which may affect IR signal.
Cell line sample
The cell sample needs to be washed by 0.85 – 0.9% saline solution to prevent cell disruption and then washed by sterile water quickly before placed on either CaF2 or BaF2 window or Low-e microscope slide. After that, quick drying process using vacuum desiccator is applied to smoothing layered cell line that should not be too thick or thin.
