Abstract: Disclosed herein are kits and methods for modified expansion microscopy, including a mold having a sealing surface configured to form an airtight seal with a sealing material to exclude air bubbles from the mold, a crosslinking agent configured to covalently bind to both a biological element of a sample and to an expansion gel, and instructions for use of the mold in an expansion microscopy method. The instructions include a description of an expansion microscopy method that includes at least one method step that involves gelling in the absence of oxygen, and a written or visual representation of execution of the expansion microscopy method by conducting the at least one method step that involves gelling in the mold by forming an airtight seal against the sealing surface with a sealing material to exclude visible air bubbles from the mold upon sealing.

Abstract: Conventional expanded microscopy (ExM) is improved upon to show reliable and reproducible 4-fold and 12-fold modified expansion microscopy (mExM). Kits and methods are disclosed to achieve these improvements. The kits can include a sealable mold and instructions for using it in the improved methods. The kits can include a protein digestion buffer including sodium dodecyl sulfate and instructions for using the buffer in the improved methods. The improved methods can include a simplified approach to executing oxygen-sensitive reactions within the methods. The improved methods can include improved protein digestion chemistries, which can facilitate the improvements in reliability and reproducibility.

Abstract: Conventional expanded microscopy (ExM) is improved upon to show reliable and reproducible 4-fold and 12-fold modified expansion microscopy (mExM). Kits and methods are disclosed to achieve these improvements. The kits can include a sealable mold and instructions for using it in the improved methods. The kits can include a protein digestion buffer including sodium dodecyl sulfate and instructions for using the buffer in the improved methods. The improved methods can include a simplified approach to executing oxygen-sensitive reactions within the methods. The improved methods can include improved protein digestion chemistries, which can facilitate the improvements in reliability and reproducibility.