Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2025
06:01
Fluorescence Lifetime Macro Imager for Biomedical Applications
Published on: April 7, 2023
720
A telescopic microscope equipped with a quanta image sensor for live-cell bioluminescence imaging
Ruyu Ma1, Luciano M Santino1, Tomáš Chobola2,3
1Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Munich, Neuherberg, Germany.
Nature Methods
|May 29, 2025
Summary
Bioluminescence imaging is now viable for challenging live-cell studies. A new Keplerian telescope microscope design paired with a quanta image sensor (QIS) camera significantly enhances resolution and field of view.
Area of Science:
- Live-cell imaging
- Biophotonics
- Microscopy technology
Background:
- Bioluminescence offers advantages over fluorescence for live-cell imaging but suffers from low signal intensity.
- Current high-sensitivity cameras, like electron-multiplying charge-coupled devices (EMCCDs), limit microscope performance in resolution, field of view, and dynamic range.
- Quanta Image Sensor (QIS) technology presents a promising advancement for low-light imaging applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel microscope system that maximizes the capabilities of QIS cameras for enhanced bioluminescence imaging.
- To overcome the limitations of existing microscopy techniques in live-cell imaging.
- To establish bioluminescence as a practical tool for advanced live-cell experiments.
Main Methods:
- Development of a Keplerian-telescope-inspired microscope setup.
- Integration of a commercial quanta image sensor (QIS) camera.
- Comparative analysis of signal-to-noise ratios, spatial resolution, field of view, and dynamic range against state-of-the-art systems.
- Demonstration of multimodal imaging capabilities with epifluorescence.
Main Results:
- The novel QIS-integrated microscope ('QIScope') demonstrates exceptional sensitivity.
- Substantial improvements in spatial resolution, field of view, and dynamic range were achieved compared to existing methods.
- Modestly improved signal-to-noise ratios were observed.
- The system enables simultaneous monitoring of intracellular and extracellular vesicles and dynamics of low-abundance proteins.
Conclusions:
- The 'QIScope' system makes high-performance bioluminescence imaging feasible for demanding live-cell applications.
- This technological advancement overcomes previous limitations, broadening the utility of bioluminescence in biological research.
- The modular, telescopic design facilitates multimodal imaging and opens new avenues for studying dynamic cellular processes.
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