A versatile and customizable low-cost 3D-printed open standard for microscopic imaging.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Microscopy
• Open-Source Technology

Background:

• Modern biological imaging microscopes are often complex 'black boxes' with high costs and limited transparency.
• There is a need for accessible, adaptable microscopy solutions in scientific research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present UC2 (You. See. Too.), a low-cost, 3D-printed, open-source modular microscopy toolbox.
• To demonstrate the system's versatility by developing both brightfield and light sheet fluorescence microscopes.
• To establish an open standard in optics for easier integration with other platforms.

Main Methods:

• Designed and 3D-printed a modular microscopy toolbox (UC2).
• Developed a self-contained incubator-enclosed brightfield microscope for cell differentiation studies.
• Modified the UC2 system with minimal additions to create a light sheet fluorescence microscope for Zebrafish imaging.

Main Results:

• Successfully monitored monocyte to macrophage cell differentiation over seven days at 2 μm resolution using the brightfield microscope.
• Built a 400 Euro light sheet fluorescence microscope capable of volumetric imaging of transgenic Zebrafish expressing GFP.
• Demonstrated the system's adaptability and ease of replication through comprehensive documentation.

Conclusions:

• UC2 provides a versatile, low-cost, and open-source platform for advanced biological imaging.
• The modular design facilitates the creation of diverse microscopy setups for various research applications.
• Open standards in optics, like UC2, promote accessibility and innovation in scientific instrumentation.