NIEF is a core research facility that serves the academia and industry of Puerto Rico, Latin American, and the Caribbean by providing advanced technology and training in confocal microscopy and electrophysiology.

“Enhance your science through confocal microscopy and electrophysiology applications.”

Applications

Patch Clamp Electrophysiology

It is a versatile instrument to measure membrane action potentials and ion channel currents as well as the activity of single ion channels from any isolated cells or cellular tissues.

Confocal Microscopy

This technology makes possible the acquisition of fluorescence-based images of cellular structures and molecular events from biological samples and nanomaterials. For example, cellular organelle structures and neuronal action potentials, as well as intracellular calcium oscillations and drug delivery of nanoparticles, can be visualized with high temporal and spatial resolution.

Imaging and Electrophysiology

The coupling of confocal microscopy with patch-clamp electrophysiology enables simultaneous acquisition of fluorescence images and bioelectrical signals from biological cells and tissues.

Instrumentation

Confocal Microscopes

  • Nikon Eclipse Ti-E Inverted Microscope
    • A1R laser scanning confocal system
    • LU-N4/N4S 4-laser unit (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 640 nm)
    • Ultrafast resonant scanner (Up to 512 x 32 pixels at 420 fps)
    • High-resolution galvano scanner (Up to 4096 x 4096 pixels)
    • A1-DUG-2 GaAsP confocal multi-detector unit
    • A1-DUS spectral detector unit (Up to 32-channel spectral image at 24 fps)
    • Perfect focus system for live-cell imaging
    • SOLA SE light engine
    • NIS Elements C software
  • Nikon Eclipse FN1 Upright Microscope
    • A1R MP laser scanning confocal system
    • Coherent Chameleon II Vision multiphoton laser unit
    • Episcopic GaAsP NDD multiphoton detector unit
    • LU-N4/N4 4-laser unit (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 640 nm)
    • Ultrafast resonant scanner (Up to 512 x 32 pixels at 420 fps)
    • High-resolution galvano scanner (Up to 4096 x 4096 pixels)
    • A1-DUG-2 GaAsP confocal multi-detector unit
    • High-speed piezo objective-positioning system
    • DS-Fi1c high definition cooled color digital camera
    • SOLA SE II light engine
    • CFI75 Apochromat 25XC W objective with 1.10 NA, 2.00 WD, and anti-reflective coating
    • NIS Elements C software
  • Nikon Eclipse Ti-E Inverted Microscope (at UPR-Neurobiology Institute)
    • A1R laser scanning confocal system
    • LU-N4/N4S 4-laser unit (405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 640 nm)
    • Ultrafast resonant scanner (Up to 512 x 32 pixels at 420 fps)
    • High-resolution galvano scanner (Up to 4096 x 4096 pixels)
    • A1-DUG-2 GaAsP multi-detector unit
    • A1-DUS spectral detector unit (Up to 32-channel spectral image at 24 fps)
    • Perfect focus system for live-cell imaging
    • SOLA SE light engine
    • NIS Elements C software

Electrophysiology Rigs

  • Patch-Clamp Rig
    • Axopatch 200B amplifier
    • Axon Digidata 1550B digitizer
    • M.P.I. Master-9 pulse stimulator
    • pCLAMP 10 software
  • Two-Electrode Voltage-Clamp Rig (for frog oocytes)
    • GeneClamp 500 amplifier
    • Axon Digidata 1440A digitizer
    • pCLAMP 10 software

Training

NIEF provides training opportunities for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, young investigators, and faculty on imaging and electrophysiology techniques.

Contact Information

  • Neuroimaging and Electrophysiology Facility
    UPR Molecular Sciences Research Center
    1390 Ponce De León Avenue, Suite 1
    San Juan, P.R. 00926 Puerto Rico
  • +1 (787) 523-5315
  • nief@upr.com
  • http://nief-upr.com

Registration

To book your experiment, please complete the NIEF registration form: