Stain-free Imaging
Stain-free Imaging - Related Videos
03:43
A Whole-Mount Organ Staining Technique for Three-Dimensional Imaging of the Kidney
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2025
This video demonstrates an assay for the whole-mount staining of murine kidneys using a tissue-clearing method called CUBIC (clear, unobstructed brain/body imaging cocktails and computational analysis) and immunofluorescent staining. The kidney is subjected to tissue clearing, wherein the kidney is delipidated, decolorized, and treated with a refractive index matching solution to make the tissue transparent for optimum three-dimensional imaging. The tissue is stained with fluorescently labeled...
04:27
Whole-mount Immunofluorescence Imaging: A Fixing and Staining Technique to Evaluate Intact Organoids
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2023
This video describes the technique of immunofluorescent staining of intact prostate cancer organoids and their imaging by whole-mount confocal microscopy. This technique aims to evaluate the ex vivo differentiation capacity of basal and luminal prostate epithelial cells.
10:04
Imaging Amyloid Tissues Stained with Luminescent Conjugated Oligothiophenes by Hyperspectral Confocal Microscopy and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
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Cited by 27 •
2017
Amyloid deposition is a hallmark of different diseases and afflicts many different organs. This paper describes the application of luminescent conjugated oligothiophene fluorescence staining in combination with fluorescence microscopy techniques. This staining method represents a powerful tool for detection and exploration of protein aggregates in both clinical and scientific setups.
02:37
Microscopic Imaging of Neurons in a Mouse Brain Section Using Golgi-Cox Metallic Staining
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2025
Source: Louth, E. L., et al. Imaging neurons within thick brain sections using the Golgi-Cox method. J. Vis. Exp. (2017)This video demonstrates imaging neurons in a Golgi-Cox stained thick brain section by setting upper and lower focus boundaries and capturing overlapping images. Multiple locations are imaged to ensure detailed neuronal projections, which are combined to create a 3D representation.
08:40
Quantitation of Protein Expression and Co-localization Using Multiplexed Immuno-histochemical Staining and Multispectral Imaging
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Cited by 17 •
2016
Immunohistochemistry is a powerful lab technique for evaluating protein localization and expression within tissues. Current semi-automated methods for quantitation introduce subjectivity and often create irreproducible results. Herein, we describe methods for multiplexed immunohistochemistry and objective quantitation of protein expression and co-localization using multispectral imaging.
FAQs
Contrast arises when biological structures differ in how they interact with light. Variations in scattering, absorption, refractive index, or molecular vibrations provide measurable signals that an instrument captures and converts into an image. The selected signal determines which native features become visible, allowing researchers to examine biological organization without relying on externally added labels.
These properties can distinguish structures within cells and tissues because different biological components interact with light differently. Their resulting signal contributes to image contrast and can reveal tissue morphology or cellular organization. In medical research, this is important when preserving native features matters, particularly for observations intended to reflect the sample's unaltered state.
The main difference is how contrast is produced. Conventional staining adds chemical dyes or fluorescent tags, whereas stain-free approaches use signals already present in the specimen. This can reduce preparation steps, preserve native features, and support live-sample observation. The resulting workflow may also be faster, while established staining and histopathology remain useful complementary approaches.
Instruments detect signals associated with intrinsic biological properties and convert those measurements into images. The imaging result therefore depends on capturing information such as scattering, absorption, refractive-index variation, or molecular vibration. Once generated, the images can support visual assessment and provide data suitable for computational analysis of cellular or tissue features.
A basic workflow begins with examining the unstained cell or tissue sample using an optical method that detects an intrinsic contrast source. The instrument records the relevant signal and converts it into an image, after which investigators assess morphology, cellular dynamics, or disease-related changes. Computational analysis may then help extract or organize information from the images.
Medical researchers may use it to assess tissue morphology, observe cellular dynamics, or investigate changes associated with disease. Its label-free approach is also relevant when noninvasive or minimally disruptive observation and live-sample monitoring are priorities. These capabilities can complement conventional diagnostic and histopathological techniques rather than functioning as an automatic replacement for them.
The method can provide visual information about tissue structure, cellular behavior, and disease-related alterations while the sample remains closer to its native condition. Images may also serve as inputs for computational analysis, supporting systematic examination beyond direct visual inspection. In medical studies, these outcomes can help connect optical observations with established histopathology or other diagnostic assessments.