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Photoclick Protein Anchoring for Expansion Microscopy
Mingdi Gao1, Xiangbin Wang1, Huiwen Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan410082, China.
Analytical Chemistry
|July 16, 2026
Summary
A new photoclick protein anchoring strategy enables rapid, nanoscale imaging using expansion microscopy. This technique efficiently anchors molecules for super-resolution imaging in cells and tissues within an hour.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microscopy
- Molecular Imaging
Background:
- Expansion microscopy offers super-resolution imaging but requires efficient protein anchoring.
- Current methods face challenges in speed and control for protein anchoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid and controllable protein anchoring strategy for expansion imaging.
- To enable nanoscale imaging of biological structures using a novel photoclick approach.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a UV-light-induced photoclick reaction for protein anchor grafting.
- Developed a technique for minute-scale molecule anchoring and sample homogenization within 1 hour.
- Applied mask-assisted exposure for region-of-interest expansion imaging.
Main Results:
- Achieved nanoscale imaging of microtubule networks and cytoskeleton reorganization.
- Demonstrated multiplexed imaging in vascular smooth muscle cells under oxLDL stimulation.
- Validated rapid anchoring and imaging in mouse hippocampal slices.
Conclusions:
- The photoclick protein anchoring strategy provides efficient and rapid expansion imaging.
- This method is suitable for versatile biological and clinical applications on standard fluorescence microscopes.
- The technique allows for selective imaging in large-scale samples.
