iDISCO vs. SmartBatch+ Workflow

Thinking about using iDISCO?

A highly streamlined workflow distinguishes SmartBatch+ tissue clearing and labeling from homebrew approaches like iDISCO. SmartBatch+ allows you to process batches of up to 12 mouse brains in as little as 1 day with minimal hands-on time.

Forget dehydration and rehydration series

The SmartBatch+ workflow consists of all-aqueous reagents, avoiding time-consuming and laborious dehydration and rehydration steps.

Label-free endogenous fluorescence

Fluorescent proteins that would typically be quenched by iDISCO solvents are instead preserved with SHIELD. Consequently, with SmartBatch+, immunolabeling is not strictly necessary to visualize fluorescent proteins.

Explore a rainbow of clear, vivid endogenously-tagged fluorophores in various sample and tissue types with our highly compatible tissue clearing technology. Effectively process spine, liver, lung, skin, and much more.

Fast, uniform immunolabeling

Where immunolabeling is required, SmartBatch+ leverages stochastic electrotransport technology to enable rapid labeling of large samples. Whole rat brains can be labeled in 2-3 days in contrast to the several months required with passive techniques like iDISCO.

Unlike iDISCO labeling, SmartBatch+ also ensures that targets are uniformly labelled throughout the sample. We are constantly validating antibodies for popular targets related to neuroscience, cancer, development, and disease.

Recent publications citing SmartBatch+

A queen odour mediates reproductive suppression in a eusocial mammal

Mohammed A. Khallaf, Daniel W. Hart, Wenhan Luo, Firdevs Murad, Felipe Cybis Pereira, Daniel Mendez-Aranda, Nicole Hagenah, Alice Rossi, Valérie Bégay, Jan Okrouhlík, Dietmar Krautwurst, Mungo Kisinza Ngalameno, Andre Ganswindt, Alison J. Barker, Radim Šumbera, Markus Knaden, Sophie Pezet, Andrew Woehler, Bill S. Hansson, Nigel C. Bennett & Gary R. Lewin

Journal:
Nature
Publication Date:
Research Area:
Neural Activity
Tissue Type:
Brain
Products Cited:
SHIELD, EasyIndex, SmartClear, SmartLabel, SmartBatch+, Passive Clearing Kit, SmartSPIM, CRO Services
The S1–insula Circuit Differentially Modulates Alcohol Drinking and Aversive Behavior in Mice

Tatiyana L. Adkins, Amanda L. Salazar, Jincy R. Little, Ellen C. Howard, Samuel W. Centanni

Journal:
Journal of Neuroscience
Publication Date:
Research Area:
Neural Circuits
Tissue Species:
Mouse
Tissue Type:
Brain
Products Cited:
SmartBatch+, SmartSPIM
Distinct neurogenic pathways shape the diversification and mosaic organization of cortical output channels

Shreyas M. Suryanarayana, Xu An, Yongjun Qian, Shengli Zhao, Hemanth Mohan, Z. Josh Huang

Journal:
Neuron
Publication Date:
Research Area:
Neural Circuits
Tissue Species:
Mouse
Tissue Type:
Brain
Products Cited:
SHIELD, EasyIndex, SmartBatch+, SmartSPIM, CRO Services

Speak to an expert about your application

Do you have questions about your specific project or application, or just want to learn more about our technology? Reach out to our dedicated team of expert technicians and PhD scientists. We look forward to helping you expedite new discoveries.

Further reading

LifeCanvas Portraits: Dr. Mike Taormina

Dr. Mike Taormina uses SmartSPIM light sheet microscopy to rapidly image whole mouse brains, streamlining workflows at the Allen Institute.