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High-Speed Confocal
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Multi-dimensional imaging
Andor High-Speed Confocal with 3D Super-Resolution
Dragonfly is a high-contrast multi-dimensional imaging platform capable of four key imaging modalities. At its core is a multi-point confocal for high-speed and high-ensitivity imaging. Capturing at speeds at least 10x faster than conventional confocal technology, with dramatically improved sensitivity from 400-800 nm. Dragonfly is the optimal solution for live cell imaging, providing low phototoxicity and photobleaching, or perfect for fast volume acquisition of fixed samples. Offering two models of Dragonfly available, the 200 and 600.
Imaging Modalities
3 Confocal
Capturing at speeds at least 10x faster than conventional confocal technology. Dragonfly is the optimal solution for live cell imaging, providing low phototoxicity and photobleaching, or for fast volume acquisition of large fixed samples.
3 B-TIRF
Andor’s proprietary Borealis® Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (B-TIRF) is an artefact-free and easy-touse TIRF module available on Dragonfly 600. Uniquely with broad excitation wavelengths from 400 - 800 nm.
3 Super-Resolution - Single Molecule Localization Microscopy (SMLM)
The HLE delivers the required laser power for dSTORM and DNA-PAINT applications. 3D SMLM uses an astigmatic module (3D Super-resolution module) compatible with all imaging modalities: widefield, TIRF and confocal.
3 SRRF-Stream+
SRRF (Super-Resolution Radial Fluctuations) offers a highly effective and flexible software-based approach to super-resolution. Read our SRRF-Stream+ technical note to find out more.
- Widefield Fluorescence
Widefield is ideal for yeast or very thin samples, or applications that require high laser power, like SMLM. In widefield cameras and lasers are shared between modes to avoid switching microscope ports and turrets.
- Deconvolution
Apply integrated GPU-accelerated deconvolution with confocal, widefield & TIRF, to increase the signal to noise ratio, and boost resolution.
- Transmitted Light Microscopy (DIC, Phase Contrast & Brightfield)
All imaging modalities can be combined with transmitted light techniques (DIC or phase contrast) providing a reference channel, allowing correlative or context setting.
Focused Applications
1- Neuroscience
Super-Resolve Synapses in 3D down to 30 nm
Neuroscience researchers need to image both live and fixed samples across multiple size regimes: capturing structures from nanometers to millimeters. Dragonfly is the instrument of choice - whether imaging glial cells, axonal transport, large tissue sections, expanded samples (ExM), or dendritic spines with super-resolution (SMLM).
Dragonfly’s large field of view combined with rapid confocal imaging (400 fps), means it is 10 X more productive than point scanners. Further, the 3D superresolution
module is compatible with all imaging modalities: widefield, B-TIRF and confocal for maximum flexibility.
Localise synaptic zones & understand functional states with SMLM
- Super resolve synapses in 3D (down to 30 nm axially) with the super-resolution module.
- Resolve tethered synaptic vesicles using SMLM with lateral resolution down to 10 nm.
- Visualise the receptors at the membrane and increase signal to noise with B-TIRF.
- Super resolve structures deep inside neuronal cells with confocal (Z ~10 μm).
Create brain atlases with spatial transcriptomics
- Map gene expression at the cellular level taking advantage of faster acquisition speeds with HLE compared to ILE.
- Quantify gene expression accurately with Borealis® uniform illumination,
- Increase productivity taking advantage of the large field of view and fast confocal imaging.
Image live neuronal samples
- Image dynamic events such as calcium signalling with fast confocal imaging (400 fps).
- Image sensitive samples such as brain slices and retina explants with gentle illumination delivered by the HLE or ILE.
- Capture all signals with short exposure times and highly sensitive detectors. Image deeper into live thick brain tissue with NIR wavelengths
- Increased sample penetration.
- Increased sample viability due to less energetic radiation.
2- Cell Biology
Image cell division for hours or days
Whether imaging a cell population, intracellular organelles, Expansion microscopy (ExM) or super-resolution microscopy there is always a suitable imaging modality. Dragonfly delivers imaging with outstanding quality for cell biologists including: confocal, B-TIRF, widefield, super-resolution (SMLM) or super-resolution compatible with live cell imaging (SRRF-Stream+).
Resolve the ultrastructure of centrioles or 3D nuclear pore complexes
- Reveal Chromatin & epigenetics organization down to 10 nm in XY using the HLE.
- Investigate the mitochondrial membrane structures with 30 nm axial resolution using the 3D super-resolution module.
- Visualise the receptors at the cell membrane and identify biomolecules involved in signalling by combining the 3D super-resolution module, HLE and B-TIRF.
Image organelle dynamics with minimal phototoxicity or photobleaching
- Image live samples for days with high sensitivity detectors.
- Image microtubule growing tips or cilia beating with fast acquisition speeds (400 fps in confocal).
Image live membrane fusion events and receptor signalling
- Get more information from one image with Borealis® uniform illumination.
- Image vesicle trafficking live with outstanding quality using B-TIRF with 30% more uniformity than conventional TIRF.
- Increase productivity and get the optimal image using B-TIRF optical feedback.
Image cell biology using Expansion microscopy (ExM)
- Image large and Expanded (ExM) samples.
- Capture more images faster through large field of view, high sensitivity detectors and high power lasers.
- Quantify, use and interpret more data in the image due to Borealis® uniform illumination.
- Acquire information from multiple probes, taking advantage of the wide excitation spectrum of the HLE.
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