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Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy

Imaging Biological Samples with Optical Microscopy

Optical microscopy uses optic principles to provide detailed images of samples. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek designed the first compound optical microscope in the 17th century to visualize blood cells, bacteria, and yeast cells. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes with enhanced magnification and resolution.
In optical microscopy, the specimen to be viewed is placed on a glass slide and clipped on the stage...

Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Confocal microscopy is an advanced microscopic technique. The prime advantage of the confocal microscope over other microscopy techniques is its ability to block the out-of-focus light from the illuminated samples using pinholes. It is widely used with fluorescence optics to obtain high-resolution, sharp contrast images. Unlike optical microscopes, confocal microscopes use a focused beam of light laser to scan the entire sample surface at different z-planes. These microscopes are, therefore,...

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...

Overview of Electron Microscopy

Overview of Electron Microscopy

The wavelengths of visible light ultimately limit the maximum theoretical resolution of images created by light microscopes. Most light microscopes can only magnify 1000X, and a few can magnify up to 1500X. Electrons, like electromagnetic radiation, can behave like waves, but with wavelengths of 0.005 nm, they produce significantly greater resolution up to 0.05 nm as compared to 500 nm for visible light. An electron microscope (EM) can create a sharp image that is magnified up to 2,000,000X.

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Super-Resolution Imaging and Shared Management: A Protocol for Confocal Microscopy with Multiplex Detection

Super-Resolution Imaging and Shared Management: A Protocol for Confocal Microscopy with Multiplex Detection

Published on: February 24, 2026

Super-resolution optical microscopy: multiple choices.

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. bhuang@picasso.ucsf.edu

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology

|November 10, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Super-resolution optical microscopy offers clear visualization of biological samples, revealing hidden subcellular processes. This review compares various super-resolution techniques to aid researchers in selecting the best method for their specific applications.

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Super-Resolution Imaging and Shared Management: A Protocol for Confocal Microscopy with Multiplex Detection

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Microscopy

Background:

Super-resolution optical microscopy provides unprecedented clarity for visualizing fine biological features.
It enables direct observation of previously obscured subcellular processes, opening new avenues in biological research.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe the principles of various super-resolution optical microscopy techniques.
To compare the characteristics of different super-resolution methods for practical applications.

Main Methods:

Review of super-resolution optical microscopy principles.
Comparative analysis of imaging modalities based on practical application needs.

Main Results:

Super-resolution microscopy has rapidly advanced with diverse imaging modalities.
Each modality presents unique characteristics that suit different research questions.

Conclusions:

Understanding the principles and comparing characteristics of super-resolution techniques is crucial.
Selecting the appropriate super-resolution method enhances the ability to answer specific biological questions.