ThermoCyte: an inexpensive open-source temperature control system for live-cell imaging.

Live-cell imaging is a common technique in microscopy to investigate dynamic cellular behaviour and permits the accurate and relevant analysis of a wide range of cellular and tissue parameters, such as motility, cell division, wound healing responses and calcium (Ca) signalling in cell lines, primary cell cultures and preparations. Furthermore, this can occur under many experimental conditions, making live-cell imaging indispensable for biological research. Systems which maintain cells at physiological conditions outside of a CO incubator are often bulky, expensive and use proprietary components.