A Simple Pdms-based Suction Device for Stabilizing in Vivo Real-time Fluorescence Imaging of Transplanted Cells in Live Animals

FOR STABILIZING IN VIVO REAL-TIME FLUORESCENCE IMAGING OF TRANSPLANTED CELLS IN LIVE ANIMALS K. Shimizu 1,2 , Y. Higuchi 1,3 , Y. Kozu 1 , M. Hashida 1 , S. Konishi 1,2 * 1 Kyoto University, JAPAN, 2 Ritsumeikan University, JAPAN and 3 PREST, JST, JAPAN ABSTRACT We report a novel technique of in vivo real-time fluorescent imaging of transplanted cells for small laboratory animals. A PDMS-based device for stabilizing in vivo imaging has been developed. The suction device utilizes small negative pressure to fix the moving tissue on the cover glass for the imaging with an inverted microscope (Fig.1). The suction device realized to monitor the circulation of intravenously transplanted cells in the liver in live mice. Since the fabrication and usage are quite simple, this device provides opportunities to perform the imaging for many researchers and will be a powerful tool for cell therapy development.