Prokaryotic and eukaryotic naturally exhibit autofluorescence due to the cellular components and metabolites, such as flavins, NADH, lipofuscins, collagen, and elastin. Culture media can also interfere with fluorescent imaging due to phenol red and additional metabolites. Please review the following content below to find something suitable for your experiments.
Media
ThermoFisher Scientific – FluoroBrite DMEM Media
Millipore Sigma – BrightCell™ Photostable Cell Culture Media
Dulbecco’s MEM – (USBiological Life Sciences) It is recommended to make a stock that is buffered with NaHCO3 for 5% CO2 and supplement the medium with 2% FBS. It has been found that HEPES is sensitive to light and produces hydrogen peroxide as referenced from Analysis of the cytotoxic effects of light-exposed HEPES-containing culture medium.
Antibleaching live cell visualization medium DMEMgfp-2 – cell culture medium for cells expressing GFP. Please note references, Cell culture medium affects GFP photostability: a solution, and Anti-fading media for live cell GFP imaging.
FluoroBrite DMEM – designed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of fluorophores without the background fluorescence from phenol red. Can be used during live cell imaging to maintain cell health.
Supplies
Cellvis – Glass Bottom Dishes
Fisher Scientific – Thermo Scientific Nunc Glass Bottom Dishes and Thermo Scientific Nunc Lab-Tek and Lab Tek II Chamber Slides
Ibidi – Chambered Coverslips
Mattek – Glass Bottom Dishes
Nunc Lab-Tek II Chambered Coverglass
Wilco – Glass Bottom Dishes