Nail Varnish - (Jul/28/2008 )

Hi,

I am trying to use nail varnish for sealing my sample but it always seem that after a few days, the fluoresence dye (DIL, lipophilic cyanine) seem to bleach out. I am using PVA as a mountant.

Is nail varnish suitable as sealing agent in this case? Any other sealing agent(best if it could be easily available) I could use?

Regards

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I know it is a basic thing, but fluorescent dyes should be kept in the dark and cold (4-(-20) C). I have no experience with the dyes you are using.

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nail varnish is perfect

bleaching will be cos of light not sealant

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Does interaction with oxygen would cause this problem?

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the reason you use the mountant is to prevent excess refraction of light between coverslip and slide (its the same reason you use oil on the lens) - i would never let an immuno slide dry once i start but thats cos i want best linkage between epitope - antibody - secondary - fluorochrome

oxygen may reduce effectiveness but so may electrocuting it ( i dont do either)

i think you should look elsewhere for your solution

keep em in the dark (kitchen foil works wonders) and chilled - and dont bleach them as you view them (like all things in science - the act of observation changes the results - the light used to view will also destroy the viewed material)

dom

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Is it possible to use a different fluorophore? We've had really good experiences w/ the Alexa ones.
Also you have different kinds of mounting media that are antifade, if you want to save your sample for a longer period of time. But again, keeping them in the dark and the act of viewing your slides, will bleach.

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