MOAI Supported Microscopes

Bruker Atomic Force Microscope (362 Scott)

  • Surface topography with high resolution.
  • Both dry and wet samples.

When mounted on the Nikon Eclipse Spinning Disk Confocal:

  • Force measurements such as sample elasticity or cell surface stiffness.
  • Combination of fluorescence imaging with atomic force microscopy. 
  • Mechanical measurements of cell adhesion, endocytosis, and membrane proteins.

3i (Intelligent Imaging Innovations) Inverted Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope (224 BMB)

NOTE: this system will be deconstructed in December 2025 and replaced by the Marianas

  • 3D confocal imaging. Up to four channels
  • Single molecule sensitivity
  • Live cell imaging.

3i Marianas Inverted Spinning Disk Confocal/TIRF Microscope (224 BMB)

NOTE: To be installed by 12/31/25

  • Super-resolution SoRA spinning disk for reduced phototoxicity compared to LSM
  • 4 laser lines with microswitcher
  • Both EMCCD and CMOS cameras for rapid widefield and high-resolution imaging
  • Phasor and Vector3 lasers for photomanipulation (activation, bleaching, conversion).
  • Includes 100X objective for TIRF and HILO imaging modes

Keyence All-in-One Fluorescence Microscopes (224 BMB)

  • Fully enclosed sample chamber, adapters for multiple samples, fully mouse controlled
  • Holds up to 4 filter cubes for fluorescence selection (7 available).
  • Metal halide lamp (BZ-X710) or white LED (BZ-X810)
  • Scanning/stitching of adjacent fields (up to 29×29) with Z-stacks at multiple wavelengths or automated selection of random fields (BZ-X 810)
  • Live cell incubation, time lapse, and 3D structured illumination (SIM)

Leica Stellaris Upright Confocal Microscope (461O Biology)

  • 3D confocal imaging in up to 6 channels
  • Upright configuration for water immersion or oil-dipping objectives
  • Color camera
  • FRET/FRAP for measuring fluorophore dynamics
  • Three high-sensitivity detectors, DIC optics, 5 objectives
  • Deconvolution and tiling software

Nikon Eclipse Inverted Spinning Disk Confocal Microscope (362 Scott)

  • 3D confocal imaging. Up to four channels
  • Single molecule sensitivity
  • Live cell imaging.
  • FRAP to measure fluorophore dynamics.
  • Can be used with or without Bruker AFM 

Nikon Eclipse Inverted TIRF Microscope (224 MRB)

  • 2D imaging. Up to four channels.
  • Ideal for imaging basal cell surface in live cells. Very low background fluorescence.
  • Single molecule sensitivity
  • STORM super-resolution imaging using blinking fluorophores (50 nm resolution in XY)
  • Live cell imaging

Olympus SZX16 Stereozoom Fluorescence Microscope (236 MRB)

  • Upright dissection and transmission microscope with two objectives (230x max)
  • 4 Filter sets for transillumination: normal, dark field, oblique and polarized light
  • Fluorescence: two wavelengths available- currently for GFP and mRFP/mCherry
  • Wireless camera for image capture on user’s laptop (free software for Mac or PC)

Vectra Polaris Brightfield/Fluorescence Multi-Spectral Slide Scanning Microscope (B204 Microbiology)

  • Fully enclosed system holds 20 cassettes each with 4 slides.
  • Automated scanning of entire slide or selected regions with individual settings
  • Brightfield and/or fluorescence scanning
  • Multispectral analysis allows use of up to 9 colors for sample overlay/analysis

Zeiss Axio Imager 2 (362 Scott)

  • Upright epifluorescence microscope
  • LED illumination for fluorescence
  • Axiocam MRm camera for image capture
  • Designed for materials science and imaging of cells on biomaterials

Zeiss LSM510 Meta Inverted Confocal Microscope (B204 Microbiology)

  • 3D confocal imaging. Up to six channels
  • Live cell imaging.

Zeiss LSM900 Airyscan2 Inverted Confocal Microscope (224 MRB)

  • 3D confocal imaging. Up to four channels
  • Super-resolution imaging (150 nm in XY)
  • Live cell imaging.
  • FRAP to measure fluorophore dynamics.

Zeiss LSM980 Airyscan2 Inverted Confocal Microscope (TMI)

  • 3D confocal imaging. Up to four channels
  • Super-resolution imaging (100 nm in XY)
  • Live cell imaging.

MOAI Affiliated Microscopes (only available as fee-for-service or collaborative research)

Custom Multiphoton and Transient Absorption Microscope (Scott)

  • SpectraPhysics Insight X3 tunable laser (680 to 1300 nm)
  • Three detection channels: reflectance confocal, epi/backscattered multiphoton-excited fluorescence, and transmitted transient absorption.
  • Timed resolved imaging of non-fluorescent pigments

Custom Fluorescence Microscope with Single Cell Picking (E212 A/Z)

  • Advanced live-cell imaging with photomanipulation
  • Okolab UNO incubation chamber
  • Ring-TIRF and HILO illumination with four laser lines
  • Automated single cell picking with CellSorter micropipette-based system with pre- and post-pick imaging of fields

MOAI Ancillary Facility

Tissue Slice Preparation and Long-Term Roller Culture Facility (E317 A/Z)

  • McILwain tissue chopper for slice preparation
  • Drill-press for drilling flat sided culture tubes for mounting slices on coverslips
  • Roller incubator for long-term slice culture in tubes allowing transient imaging
  • Special stage adapter for imaging roller tube cultures