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UCsim2: two-dimensionally structured illumination microscopy using UC2.

Haoran Wang1,2, René Lachmann1,3, Barbora Marsikova1,3

  • 1Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany.

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
|February 14, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

We developed an affordable super-resolution microscopy upgrade for the open-source UC2 toolbox using injection molded parts and consumer hardware. This enhances biological imaging resolution and optical sectioning, making advanced microscopy accessible.

Keywords:
ISMSIMUC2educationmodular microscopy

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Area of Science:

  • Optical microscopy
  • Biotechnology
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Advanced microscopy is crucial for sub-diffraction biological imaging.
  • Current techniques often involve high costs and limited accessibility.
  • There is a need for cost-effective and open-source super-resolution solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a super-resolution upgrade for the open-source UC2 optical toolbox.
  • To reduce barriers to super-resolution imaging through affordability and accessibility.
  • To create a compact, multimodal 3D super-resolution microscope.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized injection molded parts for higher precision and reproducibility in microscope builds.
  • Integrated consumer-grade open-source hardware, including digital mirror devices and laser projectors.
  • Combined image scanning microscopy (ISM) and structured illumination microscopy (SIM) in a multimodal setup.
  • Imaged stained HeLa cells (Alexa Fluor 647 and Silicon Rhodamine) to assess performance.

Main Results:

  • Achieved enhanced resolution and optical sectioning compared to widefield microscopy.
  • Demonstrated improved build precision and reproducibility with injection molded components.
  • Successfully combined ISM and SIM modalities in a compact, user-friendly setup.

Conclusions:

  • The UC2 super-resolution upgrade makes advanced imaging techniques more accessible and affordable.
  • The open-source nature and use of readily available hardware democratize super-resolution microscopy.
  • This work facilitates wider adoption of super-resolution imaging in research.