SLICE™- Revolutionary Light-Sheet Microscopy System
Product Overview
SLICE: a paradigm shift in light-sheet microscopy that combines high performance with unprecedented affordability and a compact device footprint. Invented by leading researchers at Columbia University, SLICE delivers advanced 3D imaging capabilities to research labs of all sizes. This innovative system offers high-resolution imaging of biological samples, making it ideal for both individual laboratories and core facilities. SLICE comes equipped with powerful software for giga-voxel visualization, seamless image stitching, and sophisticated post-processing. Moreover, it seamlessly integrates with MBF Bioscience’s renowned suite of analytical tools, including Neurolucida 360, NeuroInfo, and NeuroDeblur, providing a comprehensive solution for cutting-edge research in neuroscience and beyond.
Key Benefits
- Affordable. Performance on par with systems costing ten times as much
- Image labeled cells and neuronal processes throughout cleared tissue
- Three-wavelength imaging capability
- Compatible with iDISCO, CLARITY, SHANEL, CUBIC, BINAREE and other optical clearing techniques
- Compact design, benchtop ready
Why Choose SLICE?
SLICE offers the power of advanced light-sheet microscopy at a fraction of the cost of conventional systems. Its compact design and user-friendly interface make it ideal for labs of all sizes, democratizing access to cutting-edge imaging technology.
SLICE is designed so that it can also be placed in locations where experiments are actually happening – e.g. for higher biosafety labels, small lab spaces or even inside incubators.
Versatile Applications
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- Whole-brain imaging and mapping
- Vascular system imaging
- Neurodegenerative disease research
- Developmental biology studies
- General biological research requiring 3D imaging
- Compatible with live imaging
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Unparalleled Performance
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SLICE offers exceptional imaging capabilities:
- Easy to operate and align
- Software-driven light-sheet for fast scan or high-resolution mode
- Minimal photobleaching for extended imaging sessions
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Published, Patent Pending Design
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- Invented by leading microscopy researchers at Columbia University
- SLICE is the next iteration of a peer-reviewed published method, (Chen et al 2024)
- Highlighted in Nature Reviews Bioengineering
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Advanced Features
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- Software-Driven Light-Sheet Modulation: Adjustable light-sheet thickness from 5 to 50 um for optimized imaging
- Linearly Adaptive Light-Sheet Offset Correction: Compensates for optical misalignments throughout large extended samples of varied types and clearing methods
- Multi-View Imaging: Dual opposing light sheets for uniform illumination
- Software-driven multi-resolution imaging
- Automated Multi-Channel Acquisition: Seamless switching between illumination wavelengths
- Acquisition Software: Streamlines image collection, stitching, post- processing, 3D visualization with add-ons available for atlas registration, neuron quantification, cell counting, deconvolution, etc.
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| Lateral Resolution | ~1μm (with 10x objective) |
| Axial Resolution | ~5μm at light sheet waist |
| Light-Sheet Field of View (FOV) | Software controllable; >640 μm |
| Imaging Speed | Up to 40 frames per second |
| Multi-Color Imaging | Blue (440-460nm), Green (515-530nm), Red (632-642nm) |
| Dimensions | L 457mm x W 368mm x H 304mm |
| Software-driven multi-resolution imaging |
Download SLICE product sheet here.
 iDISCO cleared whole mouse brain, stained with TH antibody for Dopamine system, acquired with 10x/0.28 NA objective. Image courtesy of the Tomer Lab |
 Human brain, stained with Podocalyxin/CD31 and Acta2 vasculature markers. Tissue cleared with iDISCO and imaged with 16x objective. Image courtesy of the Tomer Lab. |
 Human brain, stained with Podocalyxin/CD31 and Acta2 vasculature markers. Tissue cleared with iDISCO and imaged with 16x objective. Image courtesy of the Tomer Lab. |
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 CLARITY cleared Thy1-eYFP mouse brain imaged with 16x objective. Image courtesy of the Tomer Lab |
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 High-resolution imaging of the mouse brain |
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| Light-sheet microscopy generates extremely large data sets. SLICE uses efficient data compression to minimize data storage requirements and maximize speed. We have developed cutting edge image processing solutions that dramatically speed up multi-TB image stitching, viewing and analysis. A highly versatile 3D visualization environment and a full suite of image optimization tools with state-of-the-art functionalities are included to support your analysis and publication needs.
Image: High-resolution imaging of the mouse brain vasculature in an iDISCO cleared sample. Courtesy Dr. Raju Tomer, Columbia University. | |
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SLICE vs. Traditional LSFM Systems
Ready for Any Challenge
SLICE has been rigorously tested on a wide range of samples:
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- Whole mouse brains
- Human brain tissue samples
- Brain and blood vessel organoids
- Bacterial biofilms
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Technical Support and Documentation
Our team provides comprehensive support to ensure optimal system performance:
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- Detailed user manual and technical documentation
- Remote installation and setup assistance
- Regular software updates and performance optimizations
- Custom adaptation services for specific research needs
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Who Is Using MBF Products?
MBF products are used across the globe by the most prestigious laboratories.
Key References
MBF’s products utility is underscored by the number of references it receives in the worlds most important scientific publications. See examples below:
Horejs, CM.
Low-cost, high-performance light-sheet microscopyView Publication
Chen, Y., Chauhan, S., Gong, C. et al.
Low-cost and scalable projected light-sheet microscopy for the high-resolution imaging of cleared tissue and living samplesView Publication
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What types of labeling can be used with SLICE?
A wide range of proteins and dyes can be used with SLICE, including fos, tdTomato, mCherry, podocalyxin, CD31, Acta2, mScarlet, and Thy1-eYFP.
What software comes with SLICE?
SLICE software includes a full featured application for image acquisition, highly versatile 3D visualization environment and a rich suite of image optimization tools with state-of-the-art functionalities to support your analysis and publication needs. A quick preview mode enables you to visualize multi-TB image volumes immediately following acquisition. Advanced image stitching produces 3D image volumes suitable for quantitative analysis to produce accurate data for analyzing morphometry, cell populations, sub-cellular processes, vasculature and fluorescence properties.
Will SLICE work with the clearing technique I used for my samples?
SLICE is compatible with a wide array of tissue clearing protocols (e.g. CLARITY, iDISCO, BINAREE, SHANEL, CUBIC, etc.) using intelligent refractive index compensation (IRIC). Users can select the appropriate configuration settings for their tissue sample easily within the intuitive GUI. SLICE uses a linearly adaptive light-sheet offset correction system to correct misalignment between the light sheet and the detection focal plane in large samples, making it compatible with various tissue-clearing methods.
What storage solutions are available for handling the large data files generated by SLICE?
Optimized data storage systems with fast transfer rates take the stress out of working with multi-TB image datasets. MBF Bioscience offers high performance imaging workstations coupled to large capacity, expandable RAID networked attached storage units using 10GB/sec network connections for fast data transfer improving productivity. We can custom configure a network storage solution tailored to your lab's needs.
Why is SLICE so affordable compared to other light sheet microscopes?
SLICE uses a new patent pending approach called projected light sheet microscopy. Projected light-sheet microscopy builds uses digital light projection technology to provide state-of-the-art imaging performance with a compact device footprint, while substantially lowering costs. A recent paper describes this approach: https://rdcu.be/dTCrk
Testimonials
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"MBF provides excellent technical support and helps you to find the best technical tools for your research challenges on morphometry."
Robust Professional Support
Our service sets us apart, with a team that includes Ph.D. neuroscientists, experts in microscopy, stereology, neuron reconstruction, and image processing. We’ve also developed a host of additional support services, including:
- Forums
We have over 25 active forums where open discussions take place.
>> Learn More - On-Site/Training
We’ve conducted over 750 remote software installations.
>> Learn More - Webinars
We’ve created over 55 webinars that demonstrate our products & their uses.
>> Learn More
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At MBF, we’ve spent decades understanding the needs of researchers and their labs — and have a suite of products and solutions that have been specifically designed for the needs of today’s most important and advanced labs. Our commitment to you is to spend time with you discussing the needs of your lab — so that we can make sure the solutions we provide for you are exactly what you’ll need. It’s part of our commitment to supporting you — before, during, and after you’ve made your decision. We look forward to talking with you!
