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. 2017 Sep 22;7:12218. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12484-3

Table 1.

Comparison of UbasM properties with other optical clearing methods. The table summarizes general properties and performance indicators for UbasM and other major published clearing methods. These methods are categorized mainly into aqueous solution-/organic solvent-based and hydrogel embedding methods. To evaluate clearing efficiency, mm-thick adult mouse brain slice and 4-week old mouse hemisphere were used as small (~mm) and large samples (~cm). SeeDB was only demonstrated to embryos and young mice and the resulting sample transparency is insufficient for one-photon imaging of the adult organ. The complex uDISCO processing (i.e. 8–9 steps) required at least 15 hours30. Conclusions were evaluated from experiments performed in this paper (indicated by bold text) and also based on published information. (RT – room temperature; N.T. – not tested)

Method (Ref) Agents Clearing Performance Handling Incubation Temp.
Main (Detergent) Clearing Mode (steps) Capability Efficiency FP preservation DiI compatibility
Slice (~mm) Hemisphere (~cm)
Organic solvent-based methods
BABB (ref.24) Benzyl alcohol Benzyl Benzoate Replacing water with organic solvents (5–6 steps) Very Strong Slow >4.5 hr Very Fast 3–7 d Very poor Poor Needs Care RT
3DISCO (ref.25) Benzyl Ether Replacing water with organic solvents (6 steps) Very Strong Slow >3.5 hr Very Fast 3–7 d Poor Poor Needs Care RT
iDISCO (ref.40) Benzyl Ether Replacing water with organic solvents (6 steps) Very Strong Slow >3.5 hrr Very Fast 3–7 d Poor Poor Needs Care RT
uDISCO (ref.30) BABB(4): DBE(1) Replacing water with organic solvents (8–9 steps) Very Strong Very Slow>15 hr Very Fast 3–7 d Medium Poor Needs Care > 26  °C
Aqueous solution-based methods
Scale (ref.31) Urea Glycerol (0.1%Triton X-100) Water-based chemical agents (1–2 steps) Medium Very Slow >15 hr Very Slow months Excellent N.T. Very Easy RT
SeeDB (ref.34) Fructose Sugar solutions (6 steps) Weak Slow >2 hr Excellent Good Easy (viscous) 37 °C
CUBIC (ref.32) Urea Amino-alcohol (Triton X-100 15%, Reagent-1 0.1%, Reagent-2) Detergent-based chemical agents (3 steps) Strong Fast 1–2 hr Fast 7–12 d Excellent Poor Very Easy RT (or 37 °C)
ScaleS (ref.33) Urea Sorbitol (0.2% Triton X-100) Water-based chemical agents (5 steps) Strong Medium >2 hr Medium 2–4 weeks Excellent Good (Poor for SQ(5)) Very Easy 37 °C
UbasM Urea Amino-sugar (0.2% Triton X-100) Water-based chemical agents (3 steps) Strong Fast 1–2 hr Fast 7–12 d Excellent Good V ery Easy RT (or 30 °C)
Hydrogel embedding methods
CLARITY (ref.37) SDS Boric acid (SDS 4%) Hydrogel embedding +removal of lipids with electrophoresis Very Strong - N.T. Medium 2–4 weeks N.T. N.T. Complicated Needs device Careful 37 °C
PACT (ref.38) SDS Histodenz (SDS 8%) Hydrogel embedding + removal of lipids with 8% SDS Very Strong - N.T. Medium 2–4 weeks Medium Poor Careful 37 °C