ExM Series
Expansion microscopy (ExM) is a novel super-resolution imaging technique. This technique is compatible with various biological molecules and can be implemented using wide-field and confocal microscopes. Read more
Transport at room temperature, store at 2~8℃, shelf life is 12 months; store at -20℃, shelf life is 36 months.
Copy Link to Watch ExM Tutorial:
Cell ExM Kit (CC6232A): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeTb7QdEY2Y
Cell ExM Plus Kit (CC6233): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMKYGwkVkXY
Tissue ExM Kit (CC6234): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hZyfZBPUNE&t=9s&pp=0gcJCb4LAYcqIYzv
Expansion microscopy (ExM) is a novel super-resolution imaging technique. Biological samples can be isotropically expanded through expandable hydrogels, allowing for significantly improved resolution. This technique is compatible with various biological molecules and can be implemented using wide-field and confocal microscopes. For example, the resolution of wide-field microscopy can be improved from 250 nm to 30 nm, and that of confocal microscopy from 120 nm to 15 nm. The uniform expansion preserves the spatial information of biomolecules.
KEY FEATURES
Significant Higher Imaging Resolution The image resolution was improved significantly after expansion.
Preserves the Spatial Information of Biomolecules Uniform expansion preserves the spatial information of biomolecules
Simple and Efficient Streamlined workflow for consistent and reliable results.
Standard Microscope Compatible No specializad equipment required. Use what you already have.
Versatile Applications Ideal for cells and tissues across a wide range of research areas.
Hydrogel Expansion Fold in Three Dimension
Figure 1. Analysis of gel expansion fold .Gel was prepared by adding copper phthalocyanine at a concentration of 0.05%. Expanded gels demonstrated a 4.5-fold increase in linear dimensions (X,Y,Z). Dye intensity decreased following expansion due to dilution of dye molecules in the expanded hydrogel. Schematic representation of gel expansion in three dimension(a). Comparison of gel size before (left) and after (right) expansion in yz direction (b) and xy direction (c).
Figure 2. Comparison of expansion performance between CC6232A (4.5x) and CC6233 (8x) Cell ExM Kits, demonstrating their capabilities for high-resolution visualization of cellular structures at different expansion scales.
Significant Higher Imaging Resolution
Figure 3. HeLa cells were imaged before (a) and after (b) expansion using a Nikon CSU-W1 confocal microscope followed by deconvolution with ImageJ. Hsp60 (green) labels mitochondria, tubulin (red) labels microtubules, and nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue).
The cell ExM kit would dramatically improve the imaging resolution of confocol microscopy.
Figure 4. The Cell ExM Plus Kit enables enhanced image resolution through isotropic expansion of cell samples. Mitochondria were stained by anti-HSP60, which was shown as magenta. Lines indicated a same distinctive pattern before and after expansion, of which length was calculated as numbers of pixels. Note that both images were taken by the same lens of the microscope. Enhanced Resolution Fold = Post / Pre = 50.5 / 6.75 = 7.48.
Preserves the Spatial Information of Biomolecules
Figure 5. Schematic representation of subcellular localizaton of mitochondria and microtubles (a). HeLa cells were imaged before (b) and after (c) expansion using an OLYMPUS CKX53SF 40x microscope and subsequently deconvolved using ImageJ. Hsp60 (green) labels mitochondria, and tubulin (red) labels microtubules.
Enhanced resolution achieved through expansion microscopy revealed the original spatial relationships of proteins.
Traditionally, mitochondria and microtubules were not considered to exhibit significant colocalization.
Figure 6. Schematic representation of cell-cell tight junction in Caco-2 cells (a). Caco-2 cells were imaged before (b) and after (c) expansion using an OLYMPUS CKX53SF 40x microscope and subsequently deconvolved using ImageJ. ZO-1 (green) and Claudin-1 (red) label cell-cell tight junctions.
ZO-1 and Claudin-1 are two well-established markers of cell-cell tight junctions, commonly used for analyzing protein-protein colocalization. Following expansion microscopy, improved resolution revealed more intricate details of the signal. Notably, signal intensity decreased due to the dilution of dye molecules within the expanded hydrogel.
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FAQs
Q1 : Can EXM gels be used for bacteria, plants？
A : Currently, our R&D team has only tested the gel with animal cells. Plants, bacteria, and fungi have rigid cell walls; we have verified that the gel can expand, but we cannot confirm whether structural deformation occurs.
Q2 : What are the advantages of EXM gel compared with confocal microscopy?
A : The advantages of ExM Gel are that it can achieve confocal-level clarity under a standard widefield microscope, while enabling easy acquisition of high-resolution images in the lab and saving time on booking large-scale equipment.
If imaging is performed on a confocal microscope, using expansion gel can produce sharper and more three-dimensional images with higher definition than standard confocal imaging.
It can improve the resolution of a typical widefield microscope from approximately 250 nm to 90 nm, and boost the resolution of a confocal microscope from around 120 nm to 50 nm.
Q3 : How to observe the EXM gel under a microscope?
A : For widefield microscopy: cut a small piece of gel to fit on a microscope slide, with the cell‑containing side facing down.
For confocal microscopy: cut a small piece and place it in a glass‑bottom dish, with the cell side facing down.
The gel surface that was in contact with the cell coverslip shows a distinct indentation after expansion.
Q4 : What should I do if the expansion gel sets too quickly?
A : Recommendation: Set up the gel casting device first, then prepare the gel solution.
If you have multiple experimental groups, the prepared gel can be kept on ice.
Q5 : How long can it be stored after expansion?
A : If the expanded sample is for immunofluorescence, it can be stored in an aqueous solution at 4°C in the dark for 3–5 days.
We recommend imaging as soon as possible to avoid fluorescence quenching.
Specifications
| Application | Immunofluorescence (IF), FISH |
| Quantity | 1 Kit |
| Sufficient For | 20 Assays |
| Applicable cell types | Animal cells; Not applicable to: Plant cells or cells with cell walls |
| Applicable tissue types | soft tissue samples; Not applicable to: hard tissues such as bone, dentin, enamel, or cartilage |
