What are the different types of mounting medium used in biology?

There are two main types of mounting media used in biology: water-based and solvent-based. The main difference between the two mounting mediums is that samples can be transferred directly from the buffer to water-based mounting media. On the other hand, the sample needs to be dehydrated before transferring it to a solvent-based mounting medium.

Water-based or aqueous mounting media can be further classified as water-insoluble mounting media that solidify, water-insoluble mounting media that remain liquid, water-soluble mounting media that solidify, and water-soluble mounting media that remain liquid.

Organic, solvent-based mounting media are further classified as natural and synthetic. The type of mounting medium used depends primarily on its intended use.

Different types of mounting media are used for fluorescent microscopy, immunofluorescence slides, electron microscopy, histochemistry, ground sections, and permanent slide preparation. Choosing the right medium is important to keep the sample from drying out and preserve its integrity for long-term storage.