Clearing agent and mounting media for microscopy
A clearing agent and mounting solution for microscopy is disclosed comprising at least trichloroethanol and/or derivatives thereof, where the refractive index of the solution is greater than or equal to about 1.3810. Also disclosed are methods of preparing specimens for microscopy.
1. A clearing agent and mounting solution, comprising:
5% to 97% (v/v) trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
16.5% to 36% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
12.5% to 50% glycerol, polyethylene glycol (PEG), propylene glycol (PG), ethylene glycol (EG), and/or derivatives thereof; and optionally water.
2. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
36% (v/v) of trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
36% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
27% (v/v) glycerol.
3. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
33% (v/v) of trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
33% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
33% (v/v) glycerol.
4. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
33% (v/v) trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
33% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
17% (v/v) glycerol; and further comprising:
17% (v/v) benzyl benzoate.
5. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
29% (v/v) trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
29% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
17% (v/v) glycerol; and further comprising:
13% (v/v) benzyl benzoate; and
13% (v/v) benzyl ether.
6. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
42% (v/v) trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
16.5% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
16.5% (v/v) glycerol; and further comprising:
25% (v/v) benzyl ether.
7. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
36% (v/v) of trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
36% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
27% (v/v) PEG, PG, EG, and/or derivatives thereof.
8. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
33% (v/v) of trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
33% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
33% (v/v) PEG, PG, EG, and/or derivatives thereof.
9. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
33% (v/v) of trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
33% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
17% (v/v) PEG, PG, EG, and/or derivatives thereof; and further comprising:
17% (v/v) benzyl benzoate.
10. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
29% (v/v) of trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
29% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
17% (v/v) PEG, PG, EG, and/or derivatives thereof; and further comprising:
13% (v/v) benzyl benzoate; and
13% (v/v) benzyl ether.
11. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , comprising:
42% (v/v) trichloroethanol or derivative thereof;
16.5% (v/v) benzyl alcohol; and
16.5% (v/v) PEG, PG, EG, and/or derivatives thereof; and further comprising:
25% (v/v) benzyl ether.
12. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , wherein the trichloroethanol derivative comprises mono- or poly-halogenated branched or unbranched alcohols, diols, glycols, aldehydes, aldehyde-hydrates, hemi-acetals, acetals, ketals, aminals, and hemi-aminals of at least 2 carbon units, wherein branches are defined as any mono- or poly-halogenated aliphatic or aromatic side chains containing hydroxyl, amino, ether, carboxyl, carboxyamido, carbonate, carbamyl, carbonyl-chloride, polyethylene glycol, or aminoethanol groups, and a polymer thereof.
13. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , further comprising C1-C6 alcohol.
14. The clearing agent and mounting solution of claim 1 , further comprising a solidification aid comprising polyethylene glycol, polyamide resin, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, or mixtures thereof.
15. A clearing agent and mounting solution, comprising:
5% to 90% (v/v) trichloroethanol or derivative thereof; and
5% to 90% (v/v) benzyl alcohol.