Identifying STEDable BF₂-Azadipyrromethene Fluorophores

Area of Science:

• Chemical Biology
• Optical Microscopy
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• BF2-azadipyrromethenes are versatile fluorophores for near-infrared and far-red imaging.
• Their application in super-resolution microscopy, specifically STED nanoscopy, has not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the suitability of BF2-azadipyrromethenes for STED nanoscopy.
• To explore their potential for live-cell super-resolution imaging.

Main Methods:

• Screening of structurally related BF2-azadipyrromethenes for STED imaging potential using aqueous solutions.
• Live-cell 2D and 3D STED nanoscopy with selected far-red emitting fluorophores.

Main Results:

• Aqueous solutions effectively predicted fluorophore performance in STED imaging.
• Several far-red emitting BF2-azadipyrromethenes demonstrated successful live-cell STED imaging.
• Sub-diffraction limit resolution was achieved for intracellular structures like the nuclear membrane and endoplasmic reticulum.

Conclusions:

• The STED imaging capability of BF2-azadipyrromethene fluorophores has been established.
• These fluorophores are suitable for advanced super-resolution imaging techniques.
• Future applications of BF2-azadipyrromethenes in STED nanoscopy are anticipated to grow.