Optical/Bioluminescence

Description

To discuss projects or to get any other information, contact any one of the following from the Optical/Bioluminescence core:

Wafik S. El-Deiry, MD, PhD

Director
Office: (215) 898-9015
wafik@mail.med.upenn.edu

David Dicker

Tecnical Director
440 CRB
Office: (215) 898-9072
dickerd@mail.med.upenn.edu

Yvette Liu

Tecnical Director
440 CRB
Office: (215) 898-9072
liuyingq@mail.med.upenn.edu

 

Images taken by IVIS

Picture of the IVIS core

The Optical/Bioluminescence Sub-Core of the SAIF provides the capability to perform cellular and molecular non-invasive in-vivo bioluminescence, flourescence or near-IR imaging. The instrumentation allows sensitive, non-invasive molecular imaging for a variety of applications including detection and quantification of various bioluminescent or flourescent reporter-expressing cells or tissues (in culture or in small animals). In addition to a Xenogen In Vivo Imaging System, we have recently installed the GE Explore Optics instrument which can perform flourescence tomography on small animals. We are currently setting up and testing the PARISS Multi-spectral
Imaging System and the LI-COR Odyssey MousePOD to help users establish protocols. The facility offers assistance with experimental design, regulatory approval, troubleshooting, data management, analysis and display.

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Safety

Prerequisite of In Vivo imaging

1. Users who wish to do IN VIVO imaging are required to finish their animal hands-on training from ULAR.
2. Users must have an approved IACUC animal protocol prior their in vivo imaging. Only those who have their names in the animal protocol file may handle animals during imaging session. Others from the same PI’s lab must be added to a given protocol prior to being permitted to use the facility.

Documents required before first In Vivo imaging session

This facility must have the following documents on file before each user’s first imaging session:

1. Copy of animal protocol: protocol, amendment (if there’s any), approval letter
   Note: Users must get IACUC permission to:
   
   1. perform optical imaging
   2. transport animals between their animal housing facility and the imaging facility
   3. special permission from IAUCU if they plan to have more than one imaging session within 24 hours.
   This can be achieved either by making an amendment to existing animal protocol or by adding a paragraph in a new protocol.
   
   
2. Copy of user’s ULAR certificate of hands-on animal training

No radioactivity and No Animal Housing

1. No radioactivity is allowed during imaging session.
2. Animals are not allowed to remain at the imaging facility once an imaging session is finished.

Wearing lab coat and gloves during imaging session

1. Users should wear lab coat or disposable gown during the whole imaging session.
2. Users should wear gloves when touching animals, cages, IVIS image chamber.
3. Users should take off gloves when touching IVIS computer keyboard, computer mouse, pen, usage log book, etc.
4. Users should wear a pair of new gloves to clean the imaging system when imaging session is finished.
   
   
   

Syringe usage

1. Same syringe should not be used to inject more than one animal.
2. Syringe should not be re-inserted into ample or vials once it has been used for animal injection.
   
   
   

Imaging System Usage Log

All users must sign in the Usage Log book each time they use the system.

Users are required to thoroughly clean the imaging system following the "Routine Cleaning and Sterilization Protocol Between Users".

Animals belonging to different labs are not allowed to meet at the imaging facility.

1. Users should think carefully before booking imaging sessions.
2. User should finish imaging within scheduled time and leave immediately.
3. Users are not allowed to come earlier before their schedule time.

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Instrumentation & Services

Instrumentation

IVIS Bioluminescence and Fluorescence Imaging System
(Xenogen) with CCD Camera, Imaging chamber, Excitation Light Source, Computer Control, Color Printer

Services

In-vivo Imaging

In-vitro Imaging: cultured cell imaging, tissue/organ imaging

Bioluminescence imaging

Fluorescence imaging: GFP, DsRed, Cy5.5, ICG

Assistance will be provided per user request:

1. Rodent anesthesia
2. Substrate injection
3. Animal shaving
4. Living image acquisition
5. Data quantification and analysis
6. Transferring Living Image® data to other file formats
7. General advice on experimental design or protocol plans

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Rates & Scheduling

The core is set up to provide service at fee with no profit built in. The fees charged include costs for current personnel, operation, necessary equipment maintenance and upgrades, color printer running cost, etc.

Rates

$160 per hour for all services (including cell, organ, animal imaging and image analysis).

Discount:

10% discount to members of Abramson Cancer Center.
25% discount to investigators of NTROI program.
Free training for first-time users.

Scheduling

Please visit our calendar for scheduling: http://my.calendars.net/ivis

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