Cell Imaging Tools

Cell imaging dyes, stains, and confinement devices for precise live-cell fluorescence imaging

Live-cell imaging calls for two toolkits: probes that reveal structure, and devices that hold your cells still. Cell-permeant fluorescent probes, such as a rhodamine-based (TMR) endoplasmic reticulum probe that reads on standard TRITC or DsRed filter sets, label organelles in live cells without genetic reporters or fixation steps. PDMS (silicone) stencils, 250 um thick, define discrete culture areas on coverslips and multi-well plates in Solo, Quartet, Nonet, or Presto/Allegro formats, blocking adhesion outside the zone you define for wound-healing assays and co-culture work. Choose the probes for organelle morphology, or the stencils when you need to control cell position, adhesion geometry, or mechanical confinement during imaging.

Pick by target and live-cell compatibility.

1. Target compartment. Membrane, mitochondria, lysosome, nucleus, ER, Golgi, autophagy, calcium, ROS each have specific probes.
2. Live versus fixed. Live-cell probes must be cell-permeable and non-toxic at imaging concentrations.
3. Fluorophore properties. Excitation and emission match microscope filter set. Photostability for time-lapse.
4. Multiplex orthogonality. Avoid spectral overlap with other labels.
5. Toxicity at working concentration. For long time-lapse prioritise photostability and low toxicity over peak brightness.

Idylle supplies innovative imaging chemistry in this inventory.