An overview of techniques for immobilizing and viewing living cells

✍ Scribed by Karl J. Aufderheide

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 425 KB
• Volume: 39
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0968-4328
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2006.12.002

✦ Synopsis

Microscopists making observations on living cells are often faced with the challenge of getting those cells to hold still for extended observation times. This paper presents an overview/summary of a range of techniques for non-destructive immobilization of living cells (with an emphasis on protozoa), permitting microscopic observations and photography. A variety of chemical and physical immobilization techniques are discussed, but particular attention is paid to a comparative discussion of the mechanical devices (rotocompressors or microcompressors) used for reversible trapping of living cells.