Solution-free and simplified H&E staining using a hydrogel-based stamping technology

Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining has been widely used as a fundamental and essential tool for diagnosing diseases and understanding biological phenomena by observing cellular arrangements and tissue morphological changes. However, conventional staining methods commonly involve solution-based, complex, multistep processes that are susceptible to user-handling errors. Moreover, inconsistent staining results owing to staining artifacts pose real challenges for accurate diagnosis. This study introduces a solution-free H&E staining method based on agarose hydrogel patches that is expected to represent a valuable tool to overcome the limitations of the solution-based approach. Using two agarose gel-based hydrogel patches containing hematoxylin and eosin dyes, H&E staining can be performed through serial stamping processes, minimizing color variation from handling errors. This method allows easy adjustments of the staining color by controlling the stamping time, effectively addressing variations in staining results caused by various artifacts, such as tissue processing and thickness. Moreover, the solution-free approach eliminates the need for water, making it applicable even in environmentally limited middle- and low-income countries, while still achieving a staining quality equivalent to that of the conventional method. In summary, this hydrogel-based H&E staining method can be used by researchers and medical professionals in resource-limited settings as a powerful tool to diagnose and understand biological phenomena.