Expansion Microscopy: Using Hydrogels to Enlarge Biological Markers

April 25, 2019

For this experiment, we used Ed Boyden's technique of expansion microscopy to visualize mouse brain neurons labeled with GFP. This works by attaching the GFP markers to a hydrogel in its monomeric state, polymerizing the gel, and then hydrating it to see it expand. We had some issues with expansion due to air bubbles inhibiting polymerization.

Initial Brain Slice Magnified — A fluorscent microscope image of the unexpanded brain slice

Expanded Brain Slice Magnified — A fluorscent microscope image of the expanded brain slice

Initial Brain Slice — The original brain slice

Expanded Brain Slice — The brain slice after it had been expanded with a hydrogel

Dry Brain Slice — A failed expansion due to an air bubble inhibiting hydrogel polymerization

MAS.S66: How to Grow (Almost) Anything

Priya Pillai

Expansion Microscopy: Using Hydrogels to Enlarge Biological Markers

April 25, 2019