VectaShield Antifade Mounting Media (IF) – VectorLabs https://staging.vectorlabs.com From linker design and synthesis, bioconjugated design and manufacturing, biomolecule labeling and functionalization, and detection system and solutions, our team is here to help you move forward, with impact. Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:14:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/V-favicon-02-100x100.png VectaShield Antifade Mounting Media (IF) – VectorLabs https://staging.vectorlabs.com 32 32 VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashield/ Mon, 01 May 2023 15:43:04 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=13510 Description

VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Medium is a unique, stable formula for preserving fluorescence. This medium inhibits rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes.

Features:

  • Ideal refractive index
  • Ready to use
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Easy to use

The original VECTASHIELD  Mounting Medium does not solidify, but remains a liquid on the slide and can be stored without sealing. If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter with nail polish or a plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 4 °C, protected from light.

Specifications

Unit Size 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging, Super-Resolution Microscopy
Mounting Aqueous (Non-Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain None

The post VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Description

VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Medium is a unique, stable formula for preserving fluorescence. This medium inhibits rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes.

Features:

  • Ideal refractive index
  • Ready to use
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Easy to use

The original VECTASHIELD  Mounting Medium does not solidify, but remains a liquid on the slide and can be stored without sealing. If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter with nail polish or a plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 4 °C, protected from light.

Specifications

Unit Size10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging, Super-Resolution Microscopy
MountingAqueous (Non-Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainNone

Documents

Product FAQs

Of the many variations of super resolution microscopy (SRM) currently being used, investigators have found the properties of product H-1000 (VECTASHIELD), to be advantageous in stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Refer to the following published references for further information: 1) Olivier, N., et al (2013) Simple buffers for 3D STORM microscopy. Biochemical Optics Express 4:885-899. 2) Wegel., et al (2016) Imaging cellular structuires in super-resolution with SIM, STED and localisation microscopy: A practical comparison. Scientific Reports 6:27290.

All of the VECTASHIELD formats we currently offer which includes regular non-setting VECTASHIELD, PLUS, HardSet and Vibrance formulations each contain a percentage of glycerol.

No form of tissue dehydration (e.g. air drying or ethanol exposure) is required nor recommended when applying VECTASHIELD. From our experience, the most optimal antifade actions of VECTASHIELD are obtained when the preparation is removed from the final buffer/water rinse, kept slightly wet/moist and then coverslipped with a small volume (25-50 uL) of VECTASHIELD.

That depends upon how long you wish to retain the slides and which VECTASHIELD formulation you are using. If you are using one of our non-setting VECTASHIELD products such as H-1000/H-1200 or H-1900/H-2000, then we suggest sealing the coverslip with plastic sealant or nail polish if you intend to keep the slides beyond a day or so. If you are using one of our setting/curing formulations such as VECTASHIELD HardSet or Vibrance, then in most cases when using thin cut (<10 um) tissue sections or cell monolayers, no sealing of the coverslip is required.

Citations

Technical Information

VECTASHIELD Mounting Media are compatible with a wide array of fluorochromes, enzymatic substrates, and fluorescent proteins. Please consult the compatibility table (in the “Documents” section) to determine if VECTASHIELD will be compatible in your system.

All formulations of VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media are available with or without the counterstain DAPI (4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole).  The DAPI concentration can be modified by mixing with the corresponding VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium without DAPI.  DAPI produces a blue fluorescence when bound to DNA with excitation at about 360 nm and emission at 460 nm.

The refractive index for VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium is 1.45.

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium in Super Resolution Microscopy

The optimal medium for super-resolution imaging methods maximizes the lifetime and photoswitching characteristics of fluorophores. VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium has been shown to be compatible with a number of fluorophores used in super resolution methods including STORM, STED, and 3D-SIM imaging, such as Cy5 or Alexa Fluor 647, resulting in greater convenience and reproducibility of the method. (Olivier, N. et al., 2013, Biomedical Optics Express, Vol. 4 No. 6, pp. 885-899; Glushonkov, O. et al., 2018, Scientific Reports, V 8, 8749 (2018) ).

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison

Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD mountants using frozen tissue sections immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies.  Antifade capability is measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer s published results.

VSPGcomp jpg
VS.Chart .v2 jpg

Check out the video below on how to use a hydrophobic barrier pen.

Still using the original VECTASHIELD?

Try our upgraded product VECTASHIELD® PLUS Antifade Mounting Medium

02 15 23 banner jpg

How to mount a coverslip on a slide

Correctly coverslipping your slides ensures that your tissue specimens are preserved for optimal imaging and viewing. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to properly coverslip your slides to protect your samples.

august 10 banner 1

How to choose antifade mounting media

As far as antifade mounting media go, one-size-fits-all solutions are few and far between. Here, we break down key factors you should consider when choosing the best antifade mounting medium for your experiment.

Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.40 PM
Step by step protocol
Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM
VECTASHIELD® Brochure

The post VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]> VECTASHIELD® PLUS Antifade Mounting Medium https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashield-plus-antifade/ Mon, 01 May 2023 15:29:14 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=13487 Description

VECTASHIELD PLUS protects against fading across the visible spectrum, even under far-red wavelengths. It is compatible with most commercially available fluorophores. This new formulation of non-setting media improves upon the original VECTASHIELD products. Specifically, VECTASHIELD PLUS exhibits no inherent background or toning and provides superior fluorophore signal retention across the spectrum, including far-red wavelengths.

Features:

  • No inherent toning or background
  • Superior signal retention across the spectrum from blue to far red
  • Mounted sections can be viewed immediately
  • Available in two convenient sizes
  • Superior non-setting formulation

 

Specifications

Unit Size 2 ml, 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization
Recommended Storage 2-8 ºC
Mounting Aqueous (Non-Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain None

Technical Information

The refractive index for VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium is 1.45.

VECTASHIELD PLUS Mounting Medium does not solidify, but rather, remains a liquid on the slide—which can then be stored without sealing. If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter using nail polish or plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 2-8 °C and protected from light.

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison

Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD mountants using frozen tissue sections that have been immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies. Antifade capability is then measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer’s published results.

The post VECTASHIELD® PLUS Antifade Mounting Medium appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Description

VECTASHIELD PLUS protects against fading across the visible spectrum, even under far-red wavelengths. It is compatible with most commercially available fluorophores. This new formulation of non-setting media improves upon the original VECTASHIELD products. Specifically, VECTASHIELD PLUS exhibits no inherent background or toning and provides superior fluorophore signal retention across the spectrum, including far-red wavelengths.

Features:

  • No inherent toning or background
  • Superior signal retention across the spectrum from blue to far red
  • Mounted sections can be viewed immediately
  • Available in two convenient sizes
  • Superior non-setting formulation

Specifications

Unit Size2 ml, 10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization
Recommended Storage2-8 ºC
MountingAqueous (Non-Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainNone

Documents

Product FAQ

VECTASHIELD PLUS provides several advantages over the regular VECTASHIELD (H-1000 & H-1200). In particular, VECTASHIELD PLUS media have significantly lower inherent background​ toning and provide superior signal retention particularly in the far-red spectrum (e.g. Cy5).

Similar to other non-setting media, we recommend you to seal the coverslip perimeter if the intention is to store the slides for a period of time.

Yes, the antifade mounting media are at least equivalent in signal retention. We have not seen any reduction in performance ​with any fluorophores evaluated, and with some dyes (i.e. Alexa Fluor 647 and Dylight 649) there are advantages. 

We do know that regular VECTASHIELD antifade mounting media (H-1000 & H-1200) are suitable for SRM.​ However, the formulation for VECTASHIELD PLUS is different from that used for ​regular VECTASHIELD. Indeed one component of H-1000 and​ H-1200 that may have been a contributing factor to the underlying blue​ tone and that appears to play a key role in optimal signal for SRM, has​ been removed from VECTASHIELD PLUS. Therefore, until we have data to the ​contrary VECTASHIELD PLUS would not be recommended for SRM.

Technical Information

The refractive index for VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium is 1.45.

VECTASHIELD PLUS Mounting Medium does not solidify, but rather, remains a liquid on the slide—which can then be stored without sealing. If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter using nail polish or plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 2-8 °C and protected from light.

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison

Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD mountants using frozen tissue sections that have been immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies. Antifade capability is then measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer’s published results.

New Fluorophore Signal Table VECTASHIELD jpg New Fluoro Remaining Graph jpg VS.Chart .v2 jpg

Resources

02 15 23 banner jpg

How to mount a coverslip on a slide

Correctly coverslipping your slides ensures that your tissue specimens are preserved for optimal imaging and viewing. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to properly coverslip your slides to protect your samples.

august 10 banner 1

How to choose antifade mounting media

As far as antifade mounting media go, one-size-fits-all solutions are few and far between. Here, we break down key factors you should consider when choosing the best antifade mounting medium for your experiment.

v2 cover VL H 1900 UserGuide LBL00829 jpg
Step by Step Protocol
v2 VL LIT3018 VECTASHIELD PLUS Brochure Cover 1 jpg
Product-specific information

The post VECTASHIELD® PLUS Antifade Mounting Medium appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]> VECTASHIELD® HardSet™ Antifade Mounting Medium with Phalloidin https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashield-hardset-phalliodin/ Sat, 29 Apr 2023 05:09:34 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=15172 Description

The VECTASHIELD HardSet Antifade Mounting Medium with TRITC-Phalloidin prevents rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. Fluorescent derivatives of phalloidin are used to stain actin filaments. TRITC (tetramethylrhodamine) is excited at 544 nm and emits at 572 nm, producing an orange-red fluorescence. VECTASHIELD HardSet Mounting Media hardens after coverslipping. After approximately 15 minutes at room temperature, the coverslip will become immobilized, and optimal antifade ability and refractive index will be achieved.

Features:

  • Ideal refractive index (1.46)
  • Ready-to-use – from the refrigerator to the benchtop
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Hardening formulation

Specifications

Unit Size 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
Mounting Aqueous (Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain Phalloidin Rhodamine (red fluorescence)
Cellular Stain Cytoskeleton

The post VECTASHIELD® HardSet™ Antifade Mounting Medium with Phalloidin appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Description

The VECTASHIELD HardSet Antifade Mounting Medium with TRITC-Phalloidin prevents rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. Fluorescent derivatives of phalloidin are used to stain actin filaments. TRITC (tetramethylrhodamine) is excited at 544 nm and emits at 572 nm, producing an orange-red fluorescence. VECTASHIELD HardSet Mounting Media hardens after coverslipping. After approximately 15 minutes at room temperature, the coverslip will become immobilized, and optimal antifade ability and refractive index will be achieved.

Features:

  • Ideal refractive index (1.46)
  • Ready-to-use – from the refrigerator to the benchtop
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Hardening formulation

Specifications

Unit Size10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
MountingAqueous (Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainPhalloidin Rhodamine (red fluorescence)
Cellular StainCytoskeleton

Documents

Product FAQs

All of the VECTASHIELD formats we currently offer which includes regular non-setting VECTASHIELD, PLUS, HardSet and Vibrance formulations each contain a percentage of glycerol.

No form of tissue dehydration (e.g. air drying or ethanol exposure) is required nor recommended when applying VECTASHIELD. From our experience, the most optimal antifade actions of VECTASHIELD are obtained when the preparation is removed from the final buffer/water rinse, kept slightly wet/moist and then coverslipped with a small volume (25-50 uL) of VECTASHIELD.

That depends upon how long you wish to retain the slides and which VECTASHIELD formulation you are using. If you are using one of our non-setting VECTASHIELD products such as H-1000/H-1200 or H-1900/H-2000, then we suggest sealing the coverslip with plastic sealant or nail polish if you intend to keep the slides beyond a day or so. If you are using one of our setting/curing formulations such as VECTASHIELD HardSet or Vibrance, then in most cases when using thin cut (<10 um) tissue sections or cell monolayers, no sealing of the coverslip is requuired.

Citations

Technical Information

VECTASHIELD Mounting Media are compatible with a wide array of fluorochromes, enzymatic substrates, and fluorescent proteins. Please consult the compatibility table (in the “Documents” section) to determine if VECTASHIELD will be compatible in your system.

All formulations of VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media are available with or without the counterstain DAPI (4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole).  The DAPI concentration can be modified by mixing with the corresponding VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium without DAPI.  DAPI produces a blue fluorescence when bound to DNA with excitation at about 360 nm and emission at 460 nm.

R.J. Florijn, et. al. Cytometry, 19 (1995) 177-182.

The refractive index for VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium is 1.45.

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium in Super Resolution Microscopy

The optimal medium for super-resolution imaging methods maximizes the lifetime and photoswitching characteristics of fluorophores. VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium has been shown to be compatible with a number of fluorophores used in super resolution methods including STORM, STED, and 3D-SIM imaging, such as Cy5 or Alexa Fluor 647, resulting in greater convenience and reproducibility of the method. (Olivier, N. et al., 2013, Biomedical Optics Express, Vol. 4 No. 6, pp. 885-899; Glushonkov, O. et al., 2018, Scientific Reports, V 8, 8749 (2018) ).

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison

Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD mountants using frozen tissue sections immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies.  Antifade capability is measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer s published results.

VSPGcomp jpg

VS.Chart .v2 jpg

Check out the below video for coverslipping tips for immunofluorescence slide mounting

02 15 23 banner jpg

How to mount a coverslip on a slide

Correctly coverslipping your slides ensures that your tissue specimens are preserved for optimal imaging and viewing. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to properly coverslip your slides to protect your samples.

august 10 banner 1

How to choose antifade mounting media

As far as antifade mounting media go, one-size-fits-all solutions are few and far between. Here, we break down key factors you should consider when choosing the best antifade mounting medium for your experiment.

Screenshot 2023 03 16 at 3.24.36 PM
Step by step protocol
Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM
Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM

The post VECTASHIELD® HardSet™ Antifade Mounting Medium with Phalloidin appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]> VECTASHIELD Vibrance® Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashield-vibrance-antifade-dapi/ Wed, 26 Apr 2023 04:09:30 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=12171 Description

VECTASHIELD Vibrance is an aqueous mountant that sets at room temperature. Slides are viewable within one hour after mounting and can be stored at room temperature for extended periods, without loss of signal intensity, retraction of media or bubble formation. VECTASHIELD Vibrance Antifade Mounting Media provides excellent protection against fading across the visible spectrum, even under far-red wavelengths. It are compatible with most commercially available fluorophores.

  • Superior antifade/anti-photobleaching properties across the spectrum
  • Compatibility with commonly used fluorophores
  • View sections one hour after mounting
  • No tone or autofluorescent background, even after curing
  • Room temperature storage of slides with extended archiving time
  • Minimal bubble formation, even after several weeks storage
  • Curing formulations with choice of counterstain (DAPI) or no counterstain
  • 12 month product expiration date

Plus the same features popular with the VECTASHIELD brand:

  • Ideal refractive index
  • Easy to use
  • Ready to use, requires no warming
  • No sealing of coverslips required (curing formulations)

Specifications

Unit Size 2 ml, 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
Concentration 0.9 µg/ml
Recommended Storage Refrigerate
Mounting Aqueous (Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain DAPI (blue fluorescence)
Cellular Stain Nucleus

The post VECTASHIELD Vibrance® Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Description

VECTASHIELD Vibrance is an aqueous mountant that sets at room temperature. Slides are viewable within one hour after mounting and can be stored at room temperature for extended periods, without loss of signal intensity, retraction of media or bubble formation. VECTASHIELD Vibrance Antifade Mounting Media provides excellent protection against fading across the visible spectrum, even under far-red wavelengths. It are compatible with most commercially available fluorophores.

  • Superior antifade/anti-photobleaching properties across the spectrum
  • Compatibility with commonly used fluorophores
  • View sections one hour after mounting
  • No tone or autofluorescent background, even after curing
  • Room temperature storage of slides with extended archiving time
  • Minimal bubble formation, even after several weeks storage
  • Curing formulations with choice of counterstain (DAPI) or no counterstain
  • 12 month product expiration date

 

Plus the same features popular with the VECTASHIELD brand:

  • Ideal refractive index
  • Easy to use
  • Ready to use, requires no warming
  • No sealing of coverslips required (curing formulations)

Specifications

Unit Size2 ml, 10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
Concentration0.9 µg/ml
Recommended StorageRefrigerate
MountingAqueous (Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainDAPI (blue fluorescence)
Cellular StainNucleus

Documents

Product FAQ

Results can be viewed after one hour, but two hours is recommended for optimal signal intensity.

With adequate removal of excess buffer, the VECTASHIELD Vibrance will cure enough by one hour to hold the coverslip in place. Complete curing takes about 4 – 24 hours at room temperature.

After mounting with VECTASHIELD Vibrance, slides can be stored at room temperature for several months without media retraction, bubble formation, or loss of signal intensity. We have not seen any difference between room temperature or storage at 4 degrees C.

All of the VECTASHIELD formats we currently offer which includes regular non-setting VECTASHIELD, PLUS, HardSet and Vibrance formulations each contain a percentage of glycerol.

No form of tissue dehydration (e.g. air drying or ethanol exposure) is required nor recommended when applying VECTASHIELD. From our experience, the most optimal antifade actions of VECTASHIELD are obtained when the preparation is removed from the final buffer/water rinse, kept slightly wet/moist and then coverslipped with a small volume (25-50 uL) of VECTASHIELD.

That depends upon how long you wish to retain the slides and which VECTASHIELD formulation you are using. If you are using one of our non-setting VECTASHIELD products such as H-1000/H-1200 or H-1900/H-2000, then we suggest sealing the coverslip with plastic sealant or nail polish if you intend to keep the slides beyond a day or so. If you are using one of our setting/curing formulations such as VECTASHIELD HardSet or Vibrance, then in most cases when using thin cut (<10 um) tissue sections or cell monolayers, no sealing of the coverslip is requuired.

Citations

Technical Information

Vibrance workflow jpg

VECTASHIELD Vibrance Antifade Properties

VECTASHIELD Vibrance has outstanding antifade properties, acoss the spectrum – even under far-red wavelengths – and it is compatible with most commercially available fluorophores.

Vibrance fluors jpg

Viewable in as Little as One Hour After Mounting – No Need to Wait 24 Hours

Competitor workflows for immunofluorescence recommend that slides be viewed 24 hours after mounting. VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Media, however, allow same-day viewing. Accelerate discovery without sacrificing signal intensity or retention.

Vibrance antifade 1 jpg

Above image: Improved retention of fluorescence with VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium. Serial sections of human colon tissue (FFPE) stained for cytokeratin (mouse primary antibody AE1/AE3) and detected with fluorescein conjugated horse anti-mouse IgG secondary antibody (FI-2000). One hour after mounting with either VECTASHIELD Vibrance (top row) or a competitor mounting medium (bottom row), the sections were imaged at the intervals indicated. Note retention of fluorescent signal for section mounted with VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium.

Extended Archiving of Mounted Sections at Room Temperature

Archiving fluorescently stained sections at room temperature often leads to signal reduction and dessication of the specimen. Slides mounted with VECTASHIELD Vibrance Medium, however, can be stored for weeks at ambient temperature, in standard slide boxes, with no loss of specific signal intensity or specimen integrity. The stabilizing effect of VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium provides greater flexibility for imaging and storing fluorescently stained samples.

Vibrance DAPI jpg

Archiving fluorescently stained sections at room temperature often leads to signal reduction and desiccation of the specimen. Slides mounted with VECTASHIELD Vibrance Medium, however, can be stored for weeks at ambient temperature, in standard slide boxes, with no loss of specific signal intensity or specimen integrity. The stabilizing effect of VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium provides greater flexibility for imaging and storing fluorescently stained samples.

With no specimen obscuring retraction or bubble formation

Another problem commonly observed in immunofluorescence staining is the formation of bubbles over time, under the coverslip, or the shrinking (retraction) of the media. This phenomenon detracts from the overall quality of the sections and can obscure specific staining. The unique formulation of VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium provides a uniform sheet of medium under the coverslip, with essentially no bubble formation or retraction—even after many weeks of storage at room temperature.

VIbrance bubbles jpg

Serial sections of human colon tissue (FFPE) stained for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3, mouse primary) followed by Alexa Fluor™ 488 anti-mouse IgG secondary antibody. Sections were mounted with either VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium (H-1700, left image) or competitor mounting medium (right image) stored at room temperature for two weeks, and then imaged.

Note the absence of bubbles and background in green spectrum in left image (VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium) compared with right image, after two weeks at room temperature.

Summary of VECTASHIELD Vibrance Advantages Over Competitor Mounting Media

Vibrance summary jpg

Check out this video on coverslipping tips for immunofluorescence slide mounting

Resources

02 15 23 banner jpg

How to mount a coverslip on a slide

Correctly coverslipping your slides ensures that your tissue specimens are preserved for optimal imaging and viewing. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to properly coverslip your slides to protect your samples.

august 10 banner 1

How to choose antifade mounting media

As far as antifade mounting media go, one-size-fits-all solutions are few and far between. Here, we break down key factors you should consider when choosing the best antifade mounting medium for your experiment.

Vibrance Protocol Cover jpg
Step by Step Protocol
cover VL LIT3017 VECTASHIELD Vibrance Brochure Cover 1 jpg
Product-specific information

The post VECTASHIELD Vibrance® Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]> VECTASHIELD® HardSet™ Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashield-hardset-with-dapi/ Wed, 26 Apr 2023 03:59:54 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=12142 Description

VECTASHIELD HardSet Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI is a unique, stable formula for preserving fluorescence. This medium prevents rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. VECTASHIELD HardSet Mounting Medium with DAPI hardens after coverslipping. After approximately 15 minutes at room temperature, the coverslip will become immobilized, and optimal antifade ability and refractive index will be achieved.

Features:

  • Inhibits photobleaching of fluorescent dyes and fluorescent proteins
  • Ideal refractive index (1.46)
  • Ready-to-use – from the refrigerator to the benchtop
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Hardening formulation
  • DAPI counterstain

Specifications

Unit Size 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
Mounting Aqueous (Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain DAPI (blue fluorescence)
Cellular Stain Nucleus

The post VECTASHIELD® HardSet™ Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Still using VectaShield® HardSet™ with DAPI?

Try our upgraded product VECTASHIELD® Vibrance™ Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI

Description

VECTASHIELD HardSet Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI is a unique, stable formula for preserving fluorescence. This medium prevents rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. VECTASHIELD HardSet Mounting Medium with DAPI hardens after coverslipping. After approximately 15 minutes at room temperature, the coverslip will become immobilized, and optimal antifade ability and refractive index will be achieved. 

Features:

  • Inhibits photobleaching of fluorescent dyes and fluorescent proteins
  • Ideal refractive index (1.46)
  • Ready-to-use – from the refrigerator to the benchtop
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Hardening formulation
  • DAPI counterstain

Specifications

Unit Size10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
MountingAqueous (Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainDAPI (blue fluorescence)
Cellular StainNucleus

Documents

Product FAQs

Fixed, thin cut (<10 um), glass mounted sections are recommended to be used in combination with this medium. Unfixed material, thicker sections or the use of gasket or chamber slides or well formats may increase the incidence of bubble formation when applying H-1500. If using thin sections as described, ensure an adequate volume of the medium is being applied to spread out under the coverslip. Storage of slides in the freezer (-20 °C) may also reduce the incidence of bubbles. For existing mounted sections with bubble formation, coverslips can be removed by soaking the slides in buffer, and then remounted using fresh media.

All of the VECTASHIELD formats we currently offer which includes regular non-setting VECTASHIELD, PLUS, HardSet and Vibrance formulations each contain a percentage of glycerol.

No form of tissue dehydration (e.g. air drying or ethanol exposure) is required nor recommended when applying VECTASHIELD. From our experience, the most optimal antifade actions of VECTASHIELD are obtained when the preparation is removed from the final buffer/water rinse, kept slightly wet/moist and then coverslipped with a small volume (25-50 uL) of VECTASHIELD.

That depends upon how long you wish to retain the slides and which VECTASHIELD formulation you are using. If you are using one of our non-setting VECTASHIELD products such as H-1000/H-1200 or H-1900/H-2000, then we suggest sealing the coverslip with plastic sealant or nail polish if you intend to keep the slides beyond a day or so. If you are using one of our setting/curing formulations such as VECTASHIELD HardSet or Vibrance, then in most cases when using thin cut (<10 um) tissue sections or cell monolayers.

Citations

Technical Information

VECTASHIELD Mounting Media are compatible with a wide array of fluorochromes, enzymatic substrates, and fluorescent proteins. Please consult the compatibility table (in the “Documents” section) to determine if VECTASHIELD will be compatible in your system.

All formulations of VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media are available with or without the counterstain DAPI (4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole).  The DAPI concentration can be modified by mixing with the corresponding VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium without DAPI.  DAPI produces a blue fluorescence when bound to DNA with excitation at about 360 nm and emission at 460 nm.

R.J. Florijn, et. al. Cytometry, 19 (1995) 177-182.

The refractive index for VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium is 1.45.

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium in Super Resolution Microscopy

The optimal medium for super-resolution imaging methods maximizes the lifetime and photoswitching characteristics of fluorophores. VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium has been shown to be compatible with a number of fluorophores used in super resolution methods including STORM, STED, and 3D-SIM imaging, such as Cy5 or Alexa Fluor 647, resulting in greater convenience and reproducibility of the method. (Olivier, N. et al., 2013, Biomedical Optics Express, Vol. 4 No. 6, pp. 885-899; Glushonkov, O. et al., 2018, Scientific Reports, V 8, 8749 (2018) ).

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison

Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD mountants using frozen tissue sections immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies.  Antifade capability is measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer s published results.

VSPGcomp jpg
VS.Chart .v2 jpg

Check out the video below on how to use a hydrophobic barrier pen.

Resources

02 15 23 banner jpg

How to mount a coverslip on a slide

Correctly coverslipping your slides ensures that your tissue specimens are preserved for optimal imaging and viewing. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to properly coverslip your slides to protect your samples.

august 10 banner 1

How to choose antifade mounting media

As far as antifade mounting media go, one-size-fits-all solutions are few and far between. Here, we break down key factors you should consider when choosing the best antifade mounting medium for your experiment.

Screenshot 2023 03 16 at 3.11.41 PM
Step by Step Protocol
Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM
Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM

The post VECTASHIELD® HardSet™ Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]> VECTASHIELD Vibrance® Antifade Mounting Medium https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashield-vibrance-antifade-mounting-media/ Wed, 26 Apr 2023 03:42:20 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=12122 Description

VECTASHIELD Vibrance Antifade Mounting Media are completely new formulations of curing (hard setting) antifade mounting media for immunofluorescence applications. These newest additions to our VECTASHIELD portfolio were developed with customer feedback to improve on parameters such as ease of use and retention of specific staining intensity over time. VECTASHIELD Vibrance Antifade Mounting Media are new tools to help investigators see more and do more with each experiment.

Features:

  • Superior antifade/anti-photobleaching properties across the spectrum
  • Compatibility with commonly used fluorophores
  • View sections one hour after mounting
  • No tone or autofluorescent background, even after curing
  • Room temperature storage of slides with extended archiving time
  • Minimal bubble formation, even after several weeks storage
  • Curing formulations with choice of counterstain (DAPI) or no counterstain
  • 12 month product expiration date
Plus the same features popular with the VECTASHIELD brand:
  • Ideal refractive index
  • Easy to use
  • Ready to use, requires no warming
  • No sealing of coverslips required (curing formulations)

Specifications

Unit Size 2 ml, 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
Recommended Storage Refrigerate
Mounting Aqueous (Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain None

The post VECTASHIELD Vibrance® Antifade Mounting Medium appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Description

VECTASHIELD Vibrance Antifade Mounting Media are completely new formulations of curing (hard setting) antifade mounting media for immunofluorescence applications. These newest additions to our VECTASHIELD portfolio were developed with customer feedback to improve on parameters such as ease of use and retention of specific staining intensity over time. VECTASHIELD Vibrance Antifade Mounting Media are new tools to help investigators see more and do more with each experiment.

Features:

  • Superior antifade/anti-photobleaching properties across the spectrum
  • Compatibility with commonly used fluorophores
  • View sections one hour after mounting
  • No tone or autofluorescent background, even after curing
  • Room temperature storage of slides with extended archiving time
  • Minimal bubble formation, even after several weeks storage
  • Curing formulations with choice of counterstain (DAPI) or no counterstain 
  • 12 month product expiration date
 
Plus the same features popular with the VECTASHIELD brand:
  • Ideal refractive index
  • Easy to use
  • Ready to use, requires no warming
  • No sealing of coverslips required (curing formulations)

Specifications

Unit Size2 ml, 10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
Recommended StorageRefrigerate
MountingAqueous (Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainNone

Documents

Product FAQ

Results can be viewed after one hour, but two hours is recommended for optimal signal intensity.

With adequate removal of excess buffer, the VECTASHIELD Vibrance will cure enough by one hour to hold the coverslip in place. Complete curing takes about 4 – 24 hours at room temperature.

After mounting with VECTASHIELD Vibrance, slides can be stored at room temperature for several months without media retraction, bubble formation, or loss of signal intensity. We have not seen any difference between room temperature or storage at 4 degrees C.

All of the VECTASHIELD formats we currently offer which includes regular non-setting VECTASHIELD, PLUS, HardSet and Vibrance formulations each contain a percentage of glycerol.

No form of tissue dehydration (e.g. air drying or ethanol exposure) is required nor recommended when applying VECTASHIELD. From our experience, the most optimal antifade actions of VECTASHIELD are obtained when the preparation is removed from the final buffer/water rinse, kept slightly wet/moist and then coverslipped with a small volume (25-50 uL) of VECTASHIELD.

That depends upon how long you wish to retain the slides and which VECTASHIELD formulation you are using. If you are using one of our non-setting VECTASHIELD products such as H-1000/H-1200 or H-1900/H-2000, then we suggest sealing the coverslip with plastic sealant or nail polish if you intend to keep the slides beyond a day or so. If you are using one of our setting/curing formulations such as VECTASHIELD HardSet or Vibrance, then in most cases when using thin cut (<10 um) tissue sections or cell monolayers, no sealing of the coverslip is requuired.

Citations

Technical Information

Vibrance workflow jpg

VECTASHIELD Vibrance Antifade Properties

VECTASHIELD Vibrance has outstanding antifade properties, acoss the spectrum – even under far-red wavelengths – and it is compatible with most commercially available fluorophores.

Vibrance fluors jpg

Viewable in as Little as One Hour After Mounting – No Need to Wait 24 Hours

Competitor workflows for immunofluorescence recommend that slides be viewed 24 hours after mounting. VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Media, however, allow same-day viewing. Accelerate discovery without sacrificing signal intensity or retention.

Vibrance antifade 1 jpg

Above image: Improved retention of fluorescence with VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium. Serial sections of human colon tissue (FFPE) stained for cytokeratin (mouse primary antibody AE1/AE3) and detected with fluorescein conjugated horse anti-mouse IgG secondary antibody (FI-2000). One hour after mounting with either VECTASHIELD Vibrance (top row) or a competitor mounting medium (bottom row), the sections were imaged at the intervals indicated. Note retention of fluorescent signal for section mounted with VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium.

Extended Archiving of Mounted Sections at Room Temperature
Archiving fluorescently stained sections at room temperature often leads to signal reduction and dessication of the specimen. Slides mounted with VECTASHIELD Vibrance Medium, however, can be stored for weeks at ambient temperature, in standard slide boxes, with no loss of specific signal intensity or specimen integrity. The stabilizing effect of VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium provides greater flexibility for imaging and storing fluorescently stained samples.

Vibrance DAPI jpg

Lack of Bubble Formation & Media Retraction

A problem commonly observed in immunoflourescence staining is the formation of bubbles under the coverslip, or the shrinking (retraction) of the media over time. This phenomenon detracts from the overall quality of the sections and can obscure specific staining. The unique formulation of VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium provides a uniform sheet of medium under the coverslip, with essentially no bubble formation or retraction—even after many weeks of storage at room temperature.

VIbrance bubbles jpg

Serial sections of human colon tissue (FFPE) stained for cytokeratin (AE1/AE3, mouse primary) followed by Alexa Fluor™ 488 anti-mouse IgG secondary antibody. Sections were mounted with either VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium (H-1700, left image) or competitor mounting medium (right image) stored at room temperature for two weeks, and then imaged.

Note the absence of bubbles and background in green spectrum in left image (VECTASHIELD Vibrance Mounting Medium) compared with right image, after two weeks at room temperature.

Summary of VECTASHIELD Vibrance Advantages Over Competitor Mounting Media

Vibrance summary jpg

Check out the video below on how to use a hydrophobic barrier pen.

The post VECTASHIELD Vibrance® Antifade Mounting Medium appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]> VECTASHIELD® HardSet™ Antifade Mounting Medium https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashield-hardset-antifade/ Wed, 26 Apr 2023 03:31:56 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=12107 Description

VECTASHIELD HardSet Antifade Mounting Medium is a unique, stable formula for preserving fluorescence. This medium prevents rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. VECTASHIELD HardSet Mounting Medium hardens after coverslipping. After approximately 15 minutes at room temperature, the coverslip will become immobilized, and optimal antifade ability and refractive index will be achieved.

Features:

  • Inhibits photobleaching of dyes and fluorescent proteins
  • Ideal refractive index
  • Ready to use
  • No warming necessary
  • Offered with nuclear or cytoskeletal counterstains
  • Available in hardening formulation
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Easy to use

Specifications

Unit Size 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
Mounting Aqueous (Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain None

The post VECTASHIELD® HardSet™ Antifade Mounting Medium appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Still using VECTASHIELD HardSet?

Try our upgraded product VECTASHIELD® Vibrance™ Antifade Mounting Medium

Description

VECTASHIELD HardSet Antifade Mounting Medium is a unique, stable formula for preserving fluorescence. This medium prevents rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. VECTASHIELD HardSet Mounting Medium hardens after coverslipping. After approximately 15 minutes at room temperature, the coverslip will become immobilized, and optimal antifade ability and refractive index will be achieved.

Features:

  • Inhibits photobleaching of dyes and fluorescent proteins
  • Ideal refractive index
  • Ready to use
  • No warming necessary
  • Offered with nuclear or cytoskeletal counterstains
  • Available in hardening formulation
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Easy to use

Specifications

Unit Size10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
MountingAqueous (Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainNone

Documents

Product FAQs

Fixed, thin cut (<10 um), glass mounted sections are recommended to be used in combination with this medium. Unfixed material, thicker sections or the use of gasket or chamber slides or well formats may increase the incidence of bubble formation when applying H-1500. If using thin sections as described, ensure an adequate volume of the medium is being applied to spread out under the coverslip. Storage of slides in the freezer (-20 °C) may also reduce the incidence of bubbles. For existing mounted sections with bubble formation, coverslips can be removed by soaking the slides in buffer, and then remounted using fresh media.

All of the VECTASHIELD formats we currently offer which includes regular non-setting VECTASHIELD, PLUS, HardSet and Vibrance formulations each contain a percentage of glycerol.

No form of tissue dehydration (e.g. air drying or ethanol exposure) is required nor recommended when applying VECTASHIELD. From our experience, the most optimal antifade actions of VECTASHIELD are obtained when the preparation is removed from the final buffer/water rinse, kept slightly wet/moist and then coverslipped with a small volume (25-50 uL) of VECTASHIELD.

That depends upon how long you wish to retain the slides and which VECTASHIELD formulation you are using. If you are using one of our non-setting VECTASHIELD products such as H-1000/H-1200 or H-1900/H-2000, then we suggest sealing the coverslip with plastic sealant or nail polish if you intend to keep the slides beyond a day or so. If you are using one of our setting/curing formulations such as VECTASHIELD HardSet or Vibrance, then in most cases when using thin cut (<10 um) tissue sections or cell monolayers.

Citations

Technical Information

VECTASHIELD Mounting Media are compatible with a wide array of fluorochromes, enzymatic substrates, and fluorescent proteins. Please consult the compatibility table (in the “Documents” section) to determine if VECTASHIELD will be compatible in your system.

All formulations of VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media are available with or without the counterstain DAPI (4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole).  The DAPI concentration can be modified by mixing with the corresponding VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium without DAPI.  DAPI produces a blue fluorescence when bound to DNA with excitation at about 360 nm and emission at 460 nm.

R.J. Florijn, et. al. Cytometry, 19 (1995) 177-182.

The refractive index for VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium is 1.45.

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium in Super Resolution Microscopy

The optimal medium for super-resolution imaging methods maximizes the lifetime and photoswitching characteristics of fluorophores. VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium has been shown to be compatible with a number of fluorophores used in super resolution methods including STORM, STED, and 3D-SIM imaging, such as Cy5 or Alexa Fluor 647, resulting in greater convenience and reproducibility of the method. (Olivier, N. et al., 2013, Biomedical Optics Express, Vol. 4 No. 6, pp. 885-899; Glushonkov, O. et al., 2018, Scientific Reports, V 8, 8749 (2018) ).

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison

Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD mountants using frozen tissue sections immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies.  Antifade capability is measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer s published results.

VSPGcomp jpg
VS.Chart .v2 jpg

Check out the video below on how to use a hydrophobic barrier pen.

Resources

02 15 23 banner jpg

How to mount a coverslip on a slide

Correctly coverslipping your slides ensures that your tissue specimens are preserved for optimal imaging and viewing. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to properly coverslip your slides to protect your samples.

august 10 banner 1

How to choose antifade mounting media

As far as antifade mounting media go, one-size-fits-all solutions are few and far between. Here, we break down key factors you should consider when choosing the best antifade mounting medium for your experiment.

Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07
Step by Step Protocol
Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM
Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM

The post VECTASHIELD® HardSet™ Antifade Mounting Medium appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]> VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium with Propidium Iodide (PI) https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashield-with-propidium-iodide/ Wed, 26 Apr 2023 03:21:43 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=12091 Description

VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Medium with PI, prevents rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. PI is a reddish nuclear counterstain with a broad excitation range at around 530 nm and emission at about 615 nm.

Features:

  • Ideal refractive index (1.45)
  • Ready-to-use – from the refrigerator to the benchtop
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Non-hardening formulation

 

The original VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media does not solidify, but rather, remains a liquid on the slide, which can then be stored without sealing. If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter with nail polish or a plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 4°C and protected from light.

Specifications

Unit Size 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
Mounting Aqueous (Non-Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain Propidium Iodide (red fluorescence)
Cellular Stain Nucleus

The post VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium with Propidium Iodide (PI) appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Description

VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Medium with PI, prevents rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. PI is a reddish nuclear counterstain with a broad excitation range at around 530 nm and emission at about 615 nm.

Features:

  • Ideal refractive index (1.45)
  • Ready-to-use – from the refrigerator to the benchtop
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Non-hardening formulation

The original VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media does not solidify, but rather, remains a liquid on the slide, which can then be stored without sealing. If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter with nail polish or a plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 4°C and protected from light.

 

Specifications

Unit Size10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
MountingAqueous (Non-Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainPropidium Iodide (red fluorescence)
Cellular StainNucleus

Documents

Product FAQs

Of the many variations of super resolution microscopy (SRM) currently being used, investigators have found the properties of product H-1000 (VECTASHIELD), to be advantageous in stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Refer to the following published references for further information: 1) Olivier, N., et al (2013) Simple buffers for 3D STORM microscopy. Biochemical Optics Express 4:885-899. 2) Wegel., et al (2016) Imaging cellular structuires in super-resolution with SIM, STED and localisation microscopy: A practical comparison. Scientific Reports 6:27290.

All of the VECTASHIELD formats we currently offer which includes regular non-setting VECTASHIELD, PLUS, HardSet and Vibrance formulations each contain a percentage of glycerol.

No form of tissue dehydration (e.g. air drying or ethanol exposure) is required nor recommended when applying VECTASHIELD. From our experience, the most optimal antifade actions of VECTASHIELD are obtained when the preparation is removed from the final buffer/water rinse, kept slightly wet/moist and then coverslipped with a small volume (25-50 uL) of VECTASHIELD.

That depends upon how long you wish to retain the slides and which VECTASHIELD formulation you are using. If you are using one of our non-setting VECTASHIELD products such as H-1000/H-1200 or H-1900/H-2000, then we suggest sealing the coverslip with plastic sealant or nail polish if you intend to keep the slides beyond a day or so. If you are using one of our setting/curing formulations such as VECTASHIELD HardSet or Vibrance, then in most cases when using thin cut (<10 um) tissue sections or cell monolayers.

Citations

Technical Information

VECTASHIELD Mounting Media are compatible with a wide array of fluorochromes, enzymatic substrates, and fluorescent proteins. Please consult the compatibility table (in the “Documents” section) to determine if VECTASHIELD will be compatible in your system.

All formulations of VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media are available with or without the counterstain DAPI (4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole).  The DAPI concentration can be modified by mixing with the corresponding VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium without DAPI.  DAPI produces a blue fluorescence when bound to DNA with excitation at about 360 nm and emission at 460 nm.

R.J. Florijn, et. al. Cytometry, 19 (1995) 177-182.

The refractive index for VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium is 1.45.

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium in Super Resolution Microscopy

The optimal medium for super-resolution imaging methods maximizes the lifetime and photoswitching characteristics of fluorophores. VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium has been shown to be compatible with a number of fluorophores used in super resolution methods including STORM, STED, and 3D-SIM imaging, such as Cy5 or Alexa Fluor 647, resulting in greater convenience and reproducibility of the method. (Olivier, N. et al., 2013, Biomedical Optics Express, Vol. 4 No. 6, pp. 885-899; Glushonkov, O. et al., 2018, Scientific Reports, V 8, 8749 (2018) ).

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison

Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD mountants using frozen tissue sections immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies.  Antifade capability is measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer’s published results.

VSPGcomp jpg

VS.Chart .v2 jpg

Check out the video below on how to use a hydrophobic barrier pen.

Resources

02 15 23 banner jpg

How to mount a coverslip on a slide

Correctly coverslipping your slides ensures that your tissue specimens are preserved for optimal imaging and viewing. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to properly coverslip your slides to protect your samples.

august 10 banner 1

How to choose antifade mounting media

As far as antifade mounting media go, one-size-fits-all solutions are few and far between. Here, we break down key factors you should consider when choosing the best antifade mounting medium for your experiment.

Screenshot 2023 03 16 at 2.17.01 PM
Step by Step Protocol
Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM
Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM

The post VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium with Propidium Iodide (PI) appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]> VECTASHIELD® PLUS Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashieldr-plus-antifade-mounting-medium-dapi/ Wed, 26 Apr 2023 03:02:05 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=12067 Description

VECTASHIELD PLUS Mounting Medium protects against fading across the visible spectrum, even under far-red wavelengths. It is compatible with most commercially available fluorophores. This new formulation of non-setting media improves upon the original VECTASHIELD products. Specifically, VECTASHIELD PLUS exhibits no inherent background or toning and provides superior fluorophore signal retention across the spectrum, including far-red wavelengths.

Features:

  • No inherent toning or background
  • Superior signal retention across the spectrum from blue to far red
  • Mounted sections can be viewed immediately
  • DAPI (blue) counterstain premixed with medium
  • Available in two convenient sizes
  • Superior non-setting formulation

 

VECTASHIELD PLUS Mounting Medium with DAPI does not solidify, but remains a liquid on the slide and can be stored without sealing. If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter with nail polish or a plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 2-8 °C, protected from light.

Specifications

Unit Size 2 ml, 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization
Mounting Aqueous (Non-Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain DAPI (blue fluorescence)

 

The post VECTASHIELD® PLUS Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Description

VECTASHIELD PLUS Mounting Medium protects against fading across the visible spectrum, even under far-red wavelengths. It is compatible with most commercially available fluorophores. This new formulation of non-setting media improves upon the original VECTASHIELD products. Specifically, VECTASHIELD PLUS exhibits no inherent background or toning and provides superior fluorophore signal retention across the spectrum, including far-red wavelengths.

Features:

  • No inherent toning or background
  • Superior signal retention across the spectrum from blue to far red
  • Mounted sections can be viewed immediately
  • DAPI (blue) counterstain premixed with medium
  • Available in two convenient sizes
  • Superior non-setting formulation

 

VECTASHIELD PLUS Mounting Medium with DAPI does not solidify, but remains a liquid on the slide and can be stored without sealing. If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter with nail polish or a plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 2-8 °C, protected from light.

Specifications

Unit Size2 ml, 10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization
MountingAqueous (Non-Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainDAPI (blue fluorescence)

Documents

Citations

Technical Information

The refractive index for VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium is 1.45.

VECTASHIELD PLUS Mounting Medium does not solidify, but rather, remains a liquid on the slide ‐ which can then be stored without sealing. If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter using nail polish or plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 2-8 °C and protected from light.

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison

Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD mountants using frozen tissue sections that have been immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies. Antifade capability is then measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer’s published results.

New Fluorophore Signal Table VECTASHIELD jpg

New Fluoro Remaining Graph jpg

VS.Chart .v2 jpg

Check out the video below on how to use a hydrophobic barrier pen.

02 15 23 banner jpg

How to mount a coverslip on a slide

Correctly coverslipping your slides ensures that your tissue specimens are preserved for optimal imaging and viewing. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to properly coverslip your slides to protect your samples.

august 10 banner 1

How to choose antifade mounting media

As far as antifade mounting media go, one-size-fits-all solutions are few and far between. Here, we break down key factors you should consider when choosing the best antifade mounting medium for your experiment.

v2 cover VL H 2000 UserGuide LBL00830 jpg
Step by Step Protocol
v2 VL LIT3018 VECTASHIELD PLUS Brochure Cover 1 jpg
Product-specific information

The post VECTASHIELD® PLUS Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]> VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI https://staging.vectorlabs.com/products/vectashield-with-dapi/ Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:29:33 +0000 https://staging.vectorlabs.com/?post_type=product&p=12042 Description

VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI is a unique, stable formula for preserving fluorescence. This medium inhibits rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium with DAPI does not solidify, but remains a liquid on the slide and can be stored without sealing.

Features:

  • Ideal refractive index
  • Ready to use
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Easy to use

Specifications

Unit Size 10 ml
Applications Immunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
Mounting Aqueous (Non-Hardening)
Antifade Yes
Counterstain DAPI (blue fluorescence)
Cellular Stain Nucleus

The post VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI appeared first on VectorLabs.

]]>

Still using the original VECTASHIELD with DAPI?

Try our upgraded product VECTASHIELD® PLUS Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI

Description

VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI is a unique, stable formula for preserving fluorescence. This medium inhibits rapid photobleaching of fluorescent proteins and fluorescent dyes. VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium with DAPI does not solidify, but remains a liquid on the slide and can be stored without sealing.

Features:

  • Ideal refractive index
  • Ready to use
  • No warming necessary
  • Can be stored without sealing for long term analysis
  • Easy to use

Specifications

Unit Size10 ml
ApplicationsImmunofluorescence, In situ hybridization, Cellular Imaging
MountingAqueous (Non-Hardening)
AntifadeYes
CounterstainDAPI (blue fluorescence)
Cellular StainNucleus

Documents

Product FAQs

Of the many variations of super resolution microscopy (SRM) currently being used, investigators have found the properties of product H-1000 (VECTASHIELD), to be advantageous in stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) and structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Refer to the following published references for further information: 1) Olivier, N., et al (2013) Simple buffers for 3D STORM microscopy. Biochemical Optics Express 4:885-899. 2) Wegel., et al (2016) Imaging cellular structuires in super-resolution with SIM, STED and localisation microscopy: A practical comparison. Scientific Reports 6:27290.

All of the VECTASHIELD formats we currently offer which includes regular non-setting VECTASHIELD, PLUS, HardSet and Vibrance formulations each contain a percentage of glycerol.

No form of tissue dehydration (e.g. air drying or ethanol exposure) is required nor recommended when applying VECTASHIELD. From our experience, the most optimal antifade actions of VECTASHIELD are obtained when the preparation is removed from the final buffer/water rinse, kept slightly wet/moist and then coverslipped with a small volume (25-50 uL) of VECTASHIELD.

That depends upon how long you wish to retain the slides and which VECTASHIELD formulation you are using. If you are using one of our non-setting VECTASHIELD products such as H-1000/H-1200 or H-1900/H-2000, then we suggest sealing the coverslip with plastic sealant or nail polish if you intend to keep the slides beyond a day or so. If you are using one of our setting/curing formulations such as VECTASHIELD HardSet or Vibrance, then in most cases when using thin cut (<10 um) tissue sections or cell monolayers.

Citations

Technical Information

VECTASHIELD Mounting Media are compatible with a wide array of fluorochromes, enzymatic substrates, and fluorescent proteins. For more information about the compatibility of VECTASHIELD products, please consult the VECTASHIELD® Mounting Medium Compatibility table.

All formulations of VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media are available with or without the counterstain DAPI (4′, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole), which produces a blue fluorescence when bound to DNA with excitation at about 360 nm and emission at 460 nm.  If desired, the concentration of DAPI can be reduced by mixing with the corresponding VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium (without DAPI).

If desired, coverslips can be sealed around the perimeter with nail polish or a plastic sealant. Mounted slides should be stored at 4 °C, protected from light.

The refractive index for VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium is 1.45.

VECTASHIELD Mounting Medium Antifade Comparison

Other manufacturers measure the antifade properties of their mountants using labeled microspheres or arrayed spots. Vector Labs prefers to measure antifade properties of VECTASHIELD mountants using frozen tissue sections immunohistochemically stained with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies. Antifade capability is then measured using a 40x objective with real time imaging over 30 seconds of continuous exposure to the excitation illumination. Individual intensity measurements are recorded from 6 separate labeled regions and the average is calculated. The intensity after 30 second exposure is expressed as a percentage of the intensity at zero time. The values for PG are taken from the manufacturer s published results.

ProductCounterstainCatalog NumberUnit SizeHardeningRefractive Index
VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting MediumNoneH-100010 mlNo1.45
DAPIH-120010 mlNo1.45
PIH-130010 mlNo1.45
VECTASHIELD PLUS Antifade Mounting MediumNoneH-19002 ml, 10 mlNo1.45
DAPIH-20002 ml, 10 mlNo1.45
VECTASHIELD HardSet Antifade Mounting MediumNoneH-140010 mlYes1.36 (initial)
1.46 (cured)
DAPIH-150010 mlYes1.36 (initial)
1.46 (cured)
TRITC-PhalloidinH-160010 mlYes1.36 (initial)
1.46 (cured)
VECTASHIELD Vibrance Antifade Mounting MediumNoneH-17002 ml, 10 mlYes1.38 (initial)
1.47 (cured)
DAPIH-18002 ml, 10 mlYes1.38 (initial)
1.47 (cured)

Additional Properties of VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Medium

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Check out this video on coverslipping tips for immunofluorescence slide mounting

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How to mount a coverslip on a slide

Correctly coverslipping your slides ensures that your tissue specimens are preserved for optimal imaging and viewing. In this blog post, we will walk you through how to properly coverslip your slides to protect your samples.

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How to choose antifade mounting media

As far as antifade mounting media go, one-size-fits-all solutions are few and far between. Here, we break down key factors you should consider when choosing the best antifade mounting medium for your experiment.

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Step by Step Protocol
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Screenshot 2023 03 15 at 12.45.07 PM

The post VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium with DAPI appeared first on VectorLabs.

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