Staining silicone rubber

Fig. 4.3. (A) Diagram of the amnion invasion assay. The invasion chamber represents a cylindrical well produced by a Teflon ring (a) to which epithelium-free amnion (b) is fastened with the aid of a viton ring (c), to face the BM side up and stromal side down. A smaller lower chamber is created by a silicone rubber ring support attached to the bottom of a 35-mm tissue culture well (d) with silicone grease, and filled with medium. The (upper) invasion chamber is placed on this support, and medium with or without additives (to be tested for invasion-blocking or stimulating ability) is added to this chamber 1 h prior to the addition of labeled cells to be tested for invasive ability. Medium is then added to the tissue culture well (d) outside these chambers to bring the fiuids inside and outside the Teflon ring to the same level (e) represents a well that includes the complete invasion chamber seeded with cells on the BM. (Reproduced from Yagel et al., 1989.) (B) (a) Human amnion. Epithelium (EP), basement membrane (BM), connective tissue stroma (ST). Haematoxylin-eosin PAS stain, (b) Denuded human amnion membrane. Basement membrane (BM), connective tissue stroma (ST), Milfipore filter (F). Haematoxylin-eosin, PAS stain. (Reproduced from Russo, 1986.)...

Contact lenses are the most common polymer product in ophthalmology. The basic requirements for this type of materials are (T)excellent optical properties with a refractive index similar to cornea good wettability and oxygen permeability ( ) biologically inert, degradation resistant and not chemically reactive to the transfer area ( ) with certain mechanical strength for intensive processing and stain and precipitation prevention. The common used contact lens material includes poly-P-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, poly-P-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate-N-vinyl pyrrolidone, poly-P-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, Poly-P-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate - methyl amyl acrylate and polymethyl methacrylate ester-N-vinyl pyrrolidone, etc. The artificial cornea can be prepared by silicon rubber, poly methyl... 

After a total of 4-5 min of fixation, freeze the slide by immersion in liquid Na (it is helpful to hold the slide gently using a pair of hemostats, the tips of which are covered with silicone rubber tubing). After 15-20 sec, remove the slide and as quickly as possible, crack off the cover slip with a fresh razor blade. Immediately transfer the slide to a Coplin jar/staining dish filled with either 95% EtOH or 100% MeOH, prechilled to -20°C. Cover slips can be reused, if you find them. 

Maish, J. P. (1994). Silicone rubber staining of terracotta surfaces. Studies in Conservation, 39(4), 250-256. 

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