Paper of the Month

Representative image of SYTO®13 (green)/EB (red) fluorescence used for membrane integrity assay. Green cells have intact membranes and red cells have damaged membranes. Picture from Prickett et al., 2015.

November's Paper of the Month is now live! 

It comes from a team at the University of Alberta, who have been studying how intracellular ice formation during cryopreservation of cells is affected by the degree of supercooling and the cell volume.

In this study the number of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) undergoing intracellular ice formation at different degrees of supercooling were examined on a cryostage. Intracellular freezing can be detected by the darkening of cells. Cell survival after thawing was determined using a membrane integrity assay. In the picture above, the cells with intact membranes can be seen in green and the cells with damaged membranes can be seen in red.

Linkam stage in Antarctica

Pteropod Limacina helicina antarctica. Photo taken by the Hofmann Group, using a Wild M37 stereomicroscope and Linkam PE120 stage

A team from the Hofmann Lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara, are studying the impacts of ocean acidification in calcifying marine invertebrates such as the pteropod Limacina helicina antarctica (pictured).

The team are based at the McCurdo research station in Antarctica, and have been using the Linkam PE120 stage to observe samples both at ambient temperature and at -5°C.

Read more on their research here. 

Linkam Press Releases October/November 2015

A post doctorate research associate from Professor Rachel Williams' group at the University of Liverpool uses the Linkam TST350 stage at room temperature to characterise novel polymer materials

9th October 2015 

Temperature Controlled Stage used in the Characterisation of Novel Electrolytes for more Efficient and less Volatile Fuel Cells

Linkam Scientific Instruments report on the use of their temperature controlled stages in the study of the novel electrolytes that can be used in fuel cells. This work was carried out at the Katholic University of Leuven in Belgium. 

27th October 2015

Tensile Stage Used to Assist with the Development of New Materials that Address Eye Healthcare in the Ageing Population 

Linkam Scientific Instruments report on the use of their tensile temperature controlled stage to develop and characterise novel materials that address the growing burden of eye healthcare in an ageing population. This work is being carried out at the University of Liverpool in the research group of Professor Rachel Williams.

4th November 2015 

Linkam stages in use in the Wolfson Bioimaging Facility at the University of Bristol as part of the endocytic sorting research of Dr Paul Verkade

Linkam Scientific Instruments report on the use of their temperature controlled stages applied to CLEM and fluorescence microscopy to assist in endocytic sorting in the School of Biochemistry at the University of Bristol.

Freeze Drying Training Course

We are pleased to be involved with the Freeze Drying Training Course ‘Lyophilisation: Practical Applications Utilising Latest Equipment’ at the Hooke College of Applied Sciences, running from 3rd-5th November.

This course covers aspects of freeze drying as it relates to the pharmaceutical, biological and food industries. These topics will first be discussed in a classroom setting and then put into practise in an onsite laboratory. Attendees will get hands-on experience with the Linkam FDCS196 freeze-drying cryo-stage.

Details and registration

The Linkam FDCS196 freeze drying system provides the ability to quickly and accurately determine collapse and eutectic temperature and intricately investigate freeze dried structure of complex samples.