Open AccessMonitoring live cell viability: Comparative study of fluorescence, oblique incidence reflection and phase contrast microscopy imaging techniques
Author(s) -
Sylvie Landry,
P L McGhee,
Robert Girardin,
W. J. Keeler
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/opex.12.005754
Subject(s) - microscopy , optics , live cell imaging , fluorescence microscope , fluorescence , total internal reflection fluorescence microscope , phase contrast microscopy , viability assay , reflection (computer programming) , materials science , cell , biology , physics , computer science , genetics , programming language
The relative performances of fluorescence, oblique incidence reflection and phase contrast imaging techniques have been studied for the purpose of monitoring long-term cellular activity and cell viability of several types of normal and cancerous cells in cultures. Time-lapse movies of live cell imaging of untagged and green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagged cell lines are presented. Oblique incidence reflection microscopy is the simplest and least expensive method to implement, appears to be the least phototoxic to cells, and is recommended for use in long-term optical monitoring of cell viability.