LED Arrays for optogenetics and photochemistry in well plates
Optogenetics
In-vivo optogenetics has become a standard technique for studying neural circuits in behaving mice, rats, and other animals. But as the number of light-activated proteins and other photoreactive tools has increased, this technology is now used frequently in multi-well plates and cell culture dishes for studies in tissue culture, bacteria, zebrafish, larvae, and other research models.
For these purposes, illumination systems need to be programmable to deliver pulses of light with the correct intensity, timing, and duration. They also need to be incubator compatible. Our LEDA series of well plate illuminators were designed to fill this role.
LED Array System
- LED Microplate Illumination
- 96 well plate format—Customizable for different multi-well plates and layouts
- Light delivery in your incubator: compatible with humid and high CO2 environments
- Compact: 144 x 102 x 22 mm
You can read more about LEDA arrays here: Illuminating Cells in Microplates
Please see our optogenetic resource guide to help plan your experiments.
We use it routinely, use it every day. We love working with it, it’s perfect for us.
It’s our high throughput system.
Sizes and Layouts
We frequently make arrays with different layouts and different sizes. Just let us know your requirements.
Available Wavelengths
- White
- UV 365 nm
- Violet 405 nm, 420 nm
- Blue 450 nm, 470 nm
- Green 525 nm
- Yellow 590 nm
- Red 630 nm, 660 nm, 740 nm
- Infra-Red 940 nm
Two-color arrays are also available for alternating stimulation and inhibition.
LED Array Drivers
The LAD drivers are used to power our arrays. Analog input can directly control pulse intensity and timing. The LAD can also be manually controlled to deliver constant illumination.
The LAD4 and LAD6 allow you to split a 96 well plate into 4 or 6 sectors and illuminate each sector independently.
Pulse Generator for Optogenetics
The STOmk-2 is a pulse generator developed specifically for optogenetics. By connecting the STOmk-2 to a LAD, you can control the timing and intensity of light stimulation via 0-5V (TTL) pulses. 4 and 6 channel pulse generators are also available.
Currently being used to study:
- Stem cell (iPSC) differentiation
- Developmental biology
- Molecular biology – receptor directed protein expression (via Cry2 activation)
- CRISPR/Cas9 gene modification
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology & ophthalmologic drug development
- Photostimulation and bleaching of proteins
-
Channelopathies such as epilepsy, and arrhythmias.
-
Photopharmacology
-
Photo-uncaging
-
Photoswitching
-
Creation of photoswitchable kinase inhibitors
-
Development of Photodynamic therapies
-
Photochemistry
Please see our optogenetic resource guide to help plan your experiments.
Publications
Duran Corbera, A., Catena, J., Otero Viñas, M., Llebaria, A., & Rovira, X. (2020). Photoswitchable antagonists for a precise spatiotemporal control of β2-adrenoceptors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.
Zhu, L., Richardson, T. M., Wacheul, L., Wei, M. T., Feric, M., Whitney, G., … & Brangwynne, C. P. (2019). Controlling the material properties and rRNA processing function of the nucleolus using light. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(35), 17330-17335.
Westergard, T., McAvoy, K., Russell, K., Wen, X., Pang, Y., Morris, B., … & Haeusler, A. (2019). Repeat‐associated non‐AUG translation in C9orf72‐ALS/FTD is driven by neuronal excitation and stress. EMBO molecular medicine, 11(2), e9423.
For a complete list of publications visit this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find out more about how to plan my optogenetics experiment?
Please see our Optogenetics Resource Guide, where we have shared some of the many resources our customers have found useful for planning their optogenetics projects.
How long will it take for me to receive my order?
What colors are available for the array?
White, UV 365 nm, V (violet 405 nm), 405 nm, 420 nm, B (Blue 470 nm), G (Green 525 nm), Y (Yellow 590 nm), R (Red 630 nm), 660 nm, 740 nm, 850 nm, I (Infrared 940 nm), please ask for others.
What is the output for the array?
Output is continuously adjustable, the maximum irradiance varies for each color. The light power starts from zero and has step-less regulation.
You can control the power using the knob on the front panel of the LAD driver, or vary the voltage of an analog trigger pulse. Please see the manual for detailed information or ask Amuza.
Led Array Output |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum Output |
||||
|
Wavelength |
Duty Cycle |
mW/mm2 |
mW/cm2 |
J/s/cm2 |
| 380 nm | <20% | 1.4 | 140.2 | 0.14 |
| 380 nm | continuous | 0.5 | 45.5 | 0.05 |
| 400 nm | <20% | 1.9 | 193.2 | 0.19 |
| 400 nm | continuous | 0.7 | 72.0 | 0.07 |
| 420 nm | <20% | 1.1 | 106.1 | 0.11 |
| 420 nm | continuous | 0.5 | 45.5 | 0.05 |
| 450 nm | <20% | 1.8 | 178.0 | 0.18 |
| 470 nm | <20% | 1.5 | 151.5 | 0.15 |
| 470 nm | continuous | 0.7 | 68.2 | 0.07 |
| 530 nm | <20% | 0.9 | 85.2 | 0.09 |
| 530 nm | continuous | 0.5 | 47.3 | 0.05 |
| 590 nm | <20% | 0.4 | 43.6 | 0.04 |
| 590 nm | continuous | 0.3 | 32.2 | 0.03 |
| 630 nm | <20% | 1.5 | 147.7 | 0.15 |
| 630 nm | continuous | 0.8 | 75.8 | 0.08 |
| 660 nm | <20% | 1.4 | 140.2 | 0.14 |
| 660 nm | continuous | 0.8 | 83.3 | 0.08 |
| 940 nm | <20% | 1.4 | 136.4 | 0.14 |
| 940 nm | continuous | 0.7 | 68.2 | 0.07 |
What are the dimensions of the LEDA-X array?
Do you know if the light power is uniform between and within each well in the 96 well plate? Most LEDs have a cone-like spread, so I was wondering if the cone covered the full surface of cells in each well.
Our LEDs have a quite wide-spreading angle (120 degrees), and so cover the full surface of each well in a 96 plate.
Are the arrays calibrated so all LEDs have the same power?
What is the maximum voltage output of the LED Array Driver?
What is the length of the cable that connects the array to the driver?
Can we split the signal from one channel of the STO so that it controls 2 channels on the LAD4?
The VTS-4 can also be used to control the LAD4, correct?
Recent Blog Articles
Very Fast CRISPR (vfCRISPR) synchronizes and improves the accuracy of CRISPR cleavage using 365 nm light as a trigger.
The system requires: a guide RNA (gRNA) to target a specific DNA sequence, and a CRISPR-associated endonuclease (Cas9 protein) to perform the actual cleavage.
Questions?