Home › Microscopy & Imaging › Gluing tubes onto microscope slides using UV light
Steps
  1. 1 Apply optical glue to tube rim --:--
  2. 2 Position tube on microscope slide 00:10
  3. 3 Prepare slide for UV exposure 00:16
  4. 4 Polymerize glue under UV light 00:26
  5. 5 Carefully remove tube from slide 00:56
  6. 6 Add PEG solution to tube 01:05
Microscopy & Imaging Bio-protocol Video Citable · DOI

Gluing tubes onto microscope slides using UV light

DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.v161
Protocol
Difficulty
intermediate

Steps

1
Apply optical glue to tube rim

Apply optical glue around the entire rim of the ependorf tube. This glue will bond the tube to the microscope slide when exposed to UV light.

▶ --:--
2
Position tube on microscope slide

Place the glued ependorf tube onto the microscope slide, centering it properly for the bonding process.

▶ 00:10
3
Prepare slide for UV exposure

Invert the slide assembly and place it upside down on a transilluminator. This positioning prevents the slide from sticking to the work surface during polymerization.

▶ 00:16
4
Polymerize glue under UV light

Turn on the UV lamp and allow the optical glue to polymerize for one minute. The UV light activates and hardens the adhesive bond between the tube and slide.

▶ 00:26
5
Carefully remove tube from slide

Using a pipette tip, gently pry open and remove the ependorf tube from the hardened glue on the slide. Work carefully to avoid breaking the fragile microscope slide.

▶ 00:56
6
Add PEG solution to tube

Add the PEG solution into the ependorf tube now bonded to the slide, completing the preparation for microscopy.

▶ 01:05
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