SOFI-based 3D superresolution sectioning with a widefield microscope

Area of Science:

• Optical microscopy
• Biophysics
• Cell biology

Background:

• Superresolution microscopy has advanced biological imaging.
• Achieving 3D superresolution remains challenging with current methods.
• Conventional widefield microscopes lack superresolution capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a facile method for 3D superresolution imaging.
• To adapt superresolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) for 3D imaging.
• To image and section the cytoskeletal network of fixed cells.

Main Methods:

• Utilized superresolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI).
• Performed SOFI on a conventional lamp-based widefield microscope.
• Applied the technique to fixed cells for cytoskeletal network imaging.

Main Results:

• Achieved facile and straightforward 3D superresolution imaging.
• Demonstrated effective sectioning of cellular structures.
• Successfully imaged the cytoskeletal network with high resolution.

Conclusions:

• SOFI possesses inherent sectioning capabilities.
• SOFI transforms conventional widefield microscopes into superresolution instruments.
• This method offers a practical approach to 3D superresolution imaging.