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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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 5, 2025

Visualizing Intracellular Sialylation with Click Chemistry and Expansion Microscopy

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Published on: February 7, 2025

Expansion Microscopy with Multifunctional Polymer Dots.

Jie Liu^1,2, Xiaofeng Fang¹, Zhihe Liu¹

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China.

Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

|May 14, 2021

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

New polymer dots (Pdots) overcome challenges in expansion microscopy (ExM), enabling brighter, clearer nanoscale imaging of cellular structures and neuron synapses with conventional microscopes.

Keywords:

expansion microscopy fluorescent probes polymer dots subcellular labeling super-resolution optical fluctuation microscopy

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Advanced Compositional Analysis of Nanoparticle-polymer Composites Using Direct Fluorescence Imaging

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Published on: July 19, 2016

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Materials Science
Microscopy

Background:

Expansion microscopy (ExM) enhances nanoscale resolution using polyelectrolyte gels but faces issues with fluorophore degradation and dilution.
Achieving high-fidelity fluorescence and multicolor imaging in ExM remains a challenge for detailed subcellular visualization.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and demonstrate multifunctional polymer dots (Pdots) for high-fidelity fluorescence in expansion microscopy.
To improve visualization of subcellular structures and neuron synapses by overcoming ExM limitations.

Main Methods:

Sequential cellular targeting, gel anchoring, and fluorescence reporting using custom-designed Pdots for ExM.
Utilizing a surfactant-containing expansion buffer to improve fluorescence brightness and reduce optical fluctuations.
Combining ExM with super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) for enhanced resolution.

Main Results:

Pdots exhibit 3-6 times higher fluorescence intensity in ExM compared to commercial Alexa dyes.
Enhanced fluorescence brightness and stability in Pdots using a specialized expansion buffer.
Achieved subcellular structure resolution of approximately 30 nm using the combined ExM and SOFI approach.

Conclusions:

Multifunctional Pdots offer a robust solution for high-fidelity fluorescence in ExM.
The developed Pdots and buffer system significantly improve nanoscale imaging capabilities.
This approach holds immense potential for ExM-enhanced super-resolution microscopy.