MINFLUX nanoscopy delivers 3D multicolor nanometer resolution in cells

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Microscopy

Background:

• Super-resolution microscopy aims for nanoscale resolution of biological structures.
• Current methods face limitations in achieving uniform 3D resolution at the scale of single molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate MINFLUX nanoscopy's capability for achieving 1-3 nm 3D resolution.
• To validate its application in imaging complex biological structures in cells.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing MINFLUX (Minimal Photon Flux) nanoscopy with a donut-shaped excitation beam.
• Iterative localization of individual switchable fluorophores.

Main Results:

• Achieved 1-3 nm resolution in fixed and living cells.
• Demonstrated uniform and isotropic resolution over scalable fields of view.
• Successfully imaged mammalian nuclear pore complexes in 3D with two-color channels.

Conclusions:

• MINFLUX nanoscopy provides true nanometer-scale 3D resolution for biological imaging.
• It requires fewer photons than conventional methods, enabling new possibilities for imaging protein complexes.