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- Chamber jungle: transparent organisms will become visible thanks to the new illumination
Chamber jungle: transparent organisms will become visible thanks to the new illumination
Russian scientists have developed and patented a laboratory device with illumination for studying water samples. The invention makes it possible to obtain high-quality images of even transparent microorganisms. The material of the product forms a single optical medium with water, while the LED arrays mounted in the walls of the device create the effect as if the observed objects are illuminated from the inside. The device consumes a small amount of energy and can even be powered by a lithium battery.
How to highlight miniature objects
At the I.D. Papanin Institute of Biology of Inland Waters (IBVV) RAS has developed a device that allows you to obtain detailed images of transparent and translucent microscopic objects. A patent of the Russian Federation has been obtained for the invention. The device is designed to study plankton and benthos.
According to the developers, the invention is based on the famous Bogorov camera in the scientific world. This is a device that experts have been using for over 100 years. The device is a plate with grooves in the form of a maze, into which an aqueous sample is placed. Looking at it under a microscope, the scientist moves from one end of the grooves to the other. In this case, the sample is not mixed, and the researcher knows which part he has already viewed.
— This well-proven device has its drawbacks. In particular, when using the Bogorov camera, the researcher usually uses the illumination of the microscope itself. However, when light passes through the boundaries of media — water, air, and the material from which the camera is made — distortions occur that affect the image quality. To compensate for this, equipment manufacturers use expensive systems, but we went the other way," Mikhail Dudakov, inventor and head of the IBVV RAS experimental workshop, explained to Izvestia.
Firstly, he said, the essence of the proposed modification is the use of a new type of plastic and vacuum casting technology. The camera is made of a transparent material with a refractive index close to water. As a result, an optically homogeneous medium is created between the liquid and the walls of the chamber. Secondly, the innovation lies in the LED arrays that are embedded in the walls of the camera. They form a luminous flux that enters the microscope only when interacting with the observed object.
This creates an effect in which only the objects of observation themselves glow inside the dark field — they seem to be illuminated from the inside. As a result, scientists see them in the best quality and can examine even transparent organisms in detail.
— If light passes through several refractions, it is strongly scattered. In addition, the object we are looking at is often not illuminated enough. As a result, small details are difficult to distinguish. Previously, Bogorov's camera was just a specially shaped laboratory vessel. The entire burden of obtaining a high-quality image lay on the microscope. It was used to magnify and highlight the object. Thanks to the backlight built into the camera, the latter took over this function," commented Anna Semenova, Senior Researcher at AtlantNIRO Hydrobiology Laboratory.
As the specialist noted, thanks to such a simple tool, a quality is achieved that is comparable to the image obtained on top-end microscopes. This is a great help in the researcher's work, because in the end he manages to process more material and at the same time his eyes get less tired.
Why are aquatic organisms transparent
— Many planktonic organisms live in an environment where sunlight does not penetrate, so they do not need pigments for coloring. In addition, the production of such substances requires additional energy and resources, which the smallest aquatic inhabitants prefer to save on. Therefore, they remain transparent, which creates a problem for researchers," Elena Muchkina, professor at the Department of Ecology and Nature Management at Siberian Federal University, explained to Izvestia.
This problem is solved in various ways, the specialist said. For example, fluorescent microscopes are used to study aquatic organisms, allowing them to see micro-objects that are illuminated by reflected light. However, these methods require lengthy sample preparation and expensive reagents. The scientists' development makes it possible to study microorganisms at no extra cost and immediately after sampling.
According to Mikhail Dudakov, the modified cameras are powered by a standard lithium battery, which makes it possible to use them in almost any environment. Including on expeditions during field work. However, the device consumes little energy (0.2–1.4 watts), which provides up to 25-30 hours of battery life. Also, low energy consumption prevents the sample from heating up and allows you not to interrupt the research process to cool it down.
As the inventor noted, the material from which the product is made is not afraid of reagents and can withstand the effects of formalin, alcohols, as well as nitric and hydrochloric acids in concentrations up to 50%. At the same time, the built-in LED arrays and cables are sealed and can be immersed in water at any time.
— Modern professional microscopes with high-quality optics (such as Olympus, Leica or Levenhuk), transmitted and reflecting light, which emphasize phase contrast, give a clear image without roughness and turbidity and, as a rule, cope with the task without illumination. But this is a matter of laboratory equipment," said Maria Zmetnaya, Head of the Coastal Research Laboratory at the Northern Branch of VNIRO Federal State Budgetary Budgetary Institution.
According to her, the proposed technology will be effective when using standard microscopes used everywhere.
Olga Tarasova, co-author of the Nasha Lab project, drew attention to the fact that due to the simplicity of manufacture and operation, the invention is suitable for mass adoption and will find its niche not only in research work, but also in solving practical problems. For example, in the rapid analysis of water for agricultural needs. Also, a backlit camera can be a convenient addition to children's educational kits with microscopes.
— Studying aquatic organisms in the field is a difficult task. The main difficulties are related to their small size, fragility, and difficulty in fixing without distorting the structure. Scientists are often limited by the lack of electricity, temperature fluctuations, and lack of necessary lighting, which can affect the accuracy of observations," said Sergey Kharitonov, a molecular biologist and researcher at the Faculty of Soil Science at Lomonosov Moscow State University.
At the same time, he noted, traditional methods of visualizing microorganisms require specialized equipment, complex optics, and labor-intensive sample preparation techniques.
By virtue of the above, the expert emphasized, the development is relevant due to its simplicity and reliability of the design. At the same time, the invention solves several problems at once. Firstly, the modified camera helps to observe microorganisms in their natural environment. Secondly, it is adapted to the most unassuming conditions and does not require permanent power supplies.
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