Microbe culture from a standard agar culture
medium was placed on the pH imaging sensor. It was possible to visually observe
the pH distribution shaped on the culture by the microbe metabolism. If the culture
begins with one Escherichia coli it is possible to view the growth of size of
the colony of Escherichia coli from an early stage. The formation of a low pH
area from the Escherichia coli metabolism can be viewed. In addition we cultivated
bacteria in the part of the colony which has grown and the temperature conditions
of the culture changed. This displayed the temperature dependence of the low pH
area in the center pH. (Reference 3)
This experiment was a joint effort with Professor
Iwasaki and Assistant Yoshinobu of the Osaka University's Industrial Science Research
Institute
Low temperature culture
Image size: 25.6 mm X 25.6 mm
Point of measurement interval: 0.1 mm
Bioimaging with our microscope offers even more than
the observation of microorganisms. The microorganisms behavior can be seen in
colony units with imaging from the microorganisms surrounding environment and
pH alterations. This is different from the procedure used by current fluorescent
coloring. This is a new concept from the bioimaging process where we are expecting
the application of active evaluations from the external environment (temperature,
medication) of microorganisms and cells. In addition to microorganism colonies
we are also expecting its application to research on animal cells, fiber cells,
and more.
Bioimaging application:
pH gradient visibility is possible
Two dimensional pH sensors can be directly loaded using a pH gradient gel as an
isoelectric point cataphoresis. Then the pH gradient formed inside the gel becomes
visible. At a pH range from 3.5 to 9.5 a gradient gel pH gradient of about 2 cm
can be satisfactorily observed without using pI markers. At the same time it is
possible to display an isoelectric point cataphoresis experiment in a short time.
Image size: 17.8 mm X 8.5 mm
Point of measurement interval: 0.1 mm
There are also additional experiment results from
our microscope. There are a wide variety of processes for shaping and viewing
the results of the pH gradient. The pH gradient is used for more than isoelectric
point cataphoresis. It is also used for biochemistry and a wide variety of fields
in chemistry. We expect that our microscope will be applied as a supporting tool
to use the pH gradient for more effective research.
Additional application examples
Put one grain of cation exchange resin with a diameter of under 1 mm on the gel
film on the pH imaging sensor for an ion exchange resin evaluation (Reference
1,4). An evaluation of the ion exchange resin at the time of the contact will
be carried out from the pH distribution formed in the gel film. A very different
formed pH distribution will be displayed depending on whether or not the resin
is pure. In addition calculating and comparing the results of the proton emission
volume from the pH image showed us that the proton emission volume differed by
a factor of 100. Furthermore if the emission volume is pure then the theoretical
values are in concordance. These results show that our microscope does even more
than imaging. They display the fact that our microscope can do excellent quantitative
determination. Placing bits of textile on the gel film on the pH imaging sensor
for textile evaluation it is possible to view the appearance of the pH distribution
shaped by the application of the textile design inside the film. Gel film can
be applied on the two dimensional pH sensor and microcapsule evaluation (Reference
5), including the interior alkali material microcapsule suspension, can be conducted.
The shape of the alkalized area inside the gel film can be observed and the aggregation
status of the microcapsule can be evaluated.
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