Methods and Compositions for Preparing Biological Specimens for Microscopic Analysis
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Standford Junior University
InventorsKarl A. Deisseroth, Kwanghun Chung
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Abstract
Methods and compositions are provided for preparing a biological specimen for microscopic analysis. These methods find many uses, for example in medicine and research, e.g., to diagnose or monitor disease or graft transplantation, to study healthy or diseased tissue, to screen candidate agents for toxicity and efficacy in disease modification. Also provided are reagents, devices, kits and systems thereof that find use in practicing the subject methods.
Claims53
A method of preparing a biological specimen for microscopic analysis, the method comprising:
- fixing the specimen with a plurality of hydrogel subunits;
- polymerizing the hydrogel subunits to form a hydrogel-embedded specimen;
- and
- clearing the hydrogel-embedded specimen.
A kit for preparing a tissue for microscopic analysis, the kit comprising:
- a fixative;
- and
- a plurality of hydrogel subunits.
A system for preparing a biological specimen for imaging, the system comprising:
- an apparatus for electrophoresing a three-dimensional hydrogel-embedded specimen to substantially remove a plurality of cellular components from the specimen;
- a power supply;
- and
- a temperature-controlled buffer circulator.
An electrophoretic tissue clearing device, the device comprising:
- an electrophoresis chamber for containing a three-dimensional hydrogel-embedded specimen;
- a plurality of electrodes;
- a power supply;
- and
- a temperature-controlled buffer circulator.
A method of preserving a biological specimen, the method comprising:
- fixing the specimen with a plurality of hydrogel subunits;
- polymerizing the hydrogel subunits to form a hydrogel-embedded specimen;
- and
- clearing the hydrogel-embedded specimen.
A system for infusing hydrogel monomers into biological tissue and subsequently triggering the monomers to form a polymer, gel, mesh, or network with desired stiffness, transparency, pore size, conductivity, or permeability properties, the system comprising:
- a biological specimen;
- and
- a plurality of hydrogel subunits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.