Making the most of a confocal system

The Department of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast is happy with its purchase of a new microscope system, particularly for the quality of 3D visualisation of material surfaces

The Department of Pharmacy at the Queen's University Belfast has replaced its existing confocal microscope with a Leica TCS SP2 system.

Chris Andrews, a research fellow in the department, explained: "Our biomaterials researchers have found the high image quality of the system to be superb for 3D visualisation of the surface of different materials, such as the polymers used in hygienic healthcare products.

Many of these materials are used for research on encrustation or biofilm formation.

At the moment we are imaging fluorescent stained biofilms and hope to go on to study biofilm 'life' using physiological fluorophores." The main features the department wanted from a confocal system were flexibility, in terms of wavelengths and high scanning speed, and the potential to use the system for a wide range of applications in the future.

"Our list of requirements was pretty demanding," explained Dr Andrews, "and the Leica TCS SP2 was the only confocal system that met our requirements.

Our new system can produce superb images from a huge range of samples and we are definitely doing better work now we have it." He concluded: "I am also responsible for two other microscopes, but the confocal is my favourite because the 3D visualisation is so powerful.

Each application produces such lovely images that the scientists can't help but be thrilled.

As for the sales team at Leica, they are friendly and knowledgeable, a credit to the company.".

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