Advances in Microscopy Techniques

2011 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-263
Author(s):  
Daniel B Schmolze ◽  
Clive Standley ◽  
Kevin E Fogarty ◽  
Andrew H Fischer

Abstract Context.—Advances in microscopy enable visualization of a broad range of new morphologic features. Objective.—To review and illustrate advances in microscopy with relevance to pathologists. Data Sources.—Literature review and new observations. Results.—Fluorescence microscopy enables multiantigen detection; allows novel optical-sectioning techniques, with some advantages compared to paraffin sectioning; and permits live-cell imaging. Live-cell imaging allows pathologists to move from a period when all diagnostic expertise was reliant on interpreting static images to a period when cellular dynamics can play a role in diagnosis. New techniques have bypassed by about 100-fold what had long been believed to be a limit to the resolution of light microscopy. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) appears capable of visualizing diagnostically relevant molecular events in living or fixed cells that are immeasurable by other molecular techniques. We describe applications of 2-photon microscopy, FRET, structured illumination, and the subdiffraction techniques of near-field microscopy, photoactivated localization microscopy, stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy, and stimulated emission depletion microscopy. Conclusion.—New microscopy techniques present opportunities for pathologists to develop improved diagnostic tests.

2012 ◽  
Vol 393 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 23-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Hirsch ◽  
Dennis Strand ◽  
Mark Helm

Abstract Investigations into the fate of small interfering RNA (siRNA) after transfection may unravel new ways to improve RNA interference (RNAi) efficiency. Because intracellular degradation of RNA may prevent reliable observation of fluorescence-labeled siRNA, new tools for fluorescence microscopy are warranted to cover the considerable duration of the RNAi effect. Here, the characterization and application of new fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) dye pairs for sensing the integrity of duplex siRNA is reported, which allows an assessment of the degradation status of an siRNA cell population by live cell imaging. A panel of high-yield fluorescent dyes has been investigated for their suitability as FRET pairs for the investigation of RNA inside the cell. Nine dyes in 13 FRET pairs were evaluated based on the performance in assays of photostability, cross-excitation, bleed-through, as well as on quantified changes of fluorescence as a consequence of, e.g., RNA strand hybridization and pH variation. The Atto488/Atto590 FRET pair has been applied to live cell imaging, and has revealed first aspects of unusual trafficking of intact siRNA. A time-lapse study showed highly dynamic movement of siRNA in large perinuclear structures. These and the resulting optimized FRET labeled siRNA are expected to have significant impact on future observations of labeled RNAs in living cells.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 3543-3551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanxia Xu ◽  
Huifang Li ◽  
Xianfu Meng ◽  
Jinliang Liu ◽  
Lining Sun ◽  
...  

A new organic–inorganic hybrid nanoprobe based on luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) from mesoporous silica coated upconversion nanoparticles to a rhodamine B derivative was prepared for distinguishing Cu2+ from Hg2+ and live cell imaging applications.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 1042-1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilan Davis

We are currently in the midst of an exciting revolution in microscopy. In many ways, this has been happening for several decades, but it is the rate of development of new methods that has increased recently. The last few years have seen an impressive proliferation of new instruments for imaging at higher resolution, imaging single molecules and faster and more sensitive multidimensional live cell imaging. These include light sheet microscopy, stimulated emission depletion, structured illumination and live cell imaging on the OMX (optical microscopy experimental) platform. However, new probes and image analysis methods have also been crucial for the development of these revolutionary methods.


2021 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 179a
Author(s):  
Peter T. Brown ◽  
Rory Kruithoff ◽  
Gregory J. Seedorf ◽  
Douglas P. Shepherd

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Bousmah ◽  
H. Valenta ◽  
G. Bertolin ◽  
U. Singh ◽  
V. Nicolas ◽  
...  

AbstractYellow fluorescent proteins (YFP) are widely used as optical reporters in Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) based biosensors. Although great improvements have been done, the sensitivity of the biosensors is still limited by the low photostability and the poor fluorescence performances of YFPs at acidic pHs. In fact, today, there is no yellow variant derived from the EYFP with a pK1/2 below ∼5.5. Here, we characterize a new yellow fluorescent protein, tdLanYFP, derived from the tetrameric protein from the cephalochordate B. lanceolatum, LanYFP. With a quantum yield of 0.92 and an extinction coefficient of 133 000 mol−1.L.cm−1, it is, to our knowledge, the brightest dimeric fluorescent protein available, and brighter than most of the monomeric YFPs. Contrasting with EYFP and its derivatives, tdLanYFP has a very high photostability in vitro and preserves this property in live cells. As a consequence, tdLanYFP allows the imaging of cellular structures with sub-diffraction resolution with STED nanoscopy. We also demonstrate that the combination of high brightness and strong photostability is compatible with the use of spectro-microscopies in single molecule regimes. Its very low pK1/2 of 3.9 makes tdLanYFP an excellent tag even at acidic pHs. Finally, we show that tdLanYFP can be a FRET partner either as donor or acceptor in different biosensing modalities. Altogether, these assets make tdLanYFPa very attractive yellow fluorescent protein for long-term or single-molecule live-cell imaging that is also suitable for FRET experiment including at acidic pH.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 11092
Author(s):  
Magalie Bénard ◽  
Damien Schapman ◽  
Christophe Chamot ◽  
Fatéméh Dubois ◽  
Guénaëlle Levallet ◽  
...  

Fluorescence microscopy is essential for a detailed understanding of cellular processes; however, live-cell preservation during imaging is a matter of debate. In this study, we proposed a guide to optimize advanced light microscopy approaches by reducing light exposure through fluorescence lifetime (τ) exploitation of red/near-infrared dyes. Firstly, we characterized key instrumental elements which revealed that red/near-infrared laser lines with an 86x (Numerical Aperture (NA) = 1.2, water immersion) objective allowed high transmission of fluorescence signals, low irradiance and super-resolution. As a combination of two technologies, i.e., vacuum tubes (e.g., photomultiplier) and semiconductor microelectronics (e.g., avalanche photodiode), type S, X and R of hybrid detectors (HyD-S, HyD-X and HyD-R) were particularly adapted for red/near-infrared photon counting and τ separation. Secondly, we tested and compared lifetime-based imaging including coarse τ separation for confocal microscopy, fitting and phasor plot analysis for fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FLIM), and lifetimes weighting for enhanced stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy, in light of red/near-infrared multiplexing. Mainly, we showed that the choice of appropriate imaging approach may depend on fluorochrome number, together with their spectral/lifetime characteristics and STED compatibility. Photon-counting mode and sensitivity of HyDs together with phasor plot analysis of fluorescence lifetimes enabled the flexible and fast imaging of multi-labeled living H28 cells. Therefore, a combination of red/near-infrared dyes labeling with lifetime-based strategies offers new perspectives for live-cell imaging by enhancing sample preservation through acquisition time and light exposure reduction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 612-623
Author(s):  
Adam Tepperman ◽  
David Jiao Zheng ◽  
Maria Abou Taka ◽  
Angela Vrieze ◽  
Austin Le Lam ◽  
...  

Using multiple imaging modalities while performing independent experiments in parallel can greatly enhance the throughput of microscopy-based research, but requires the provision of appropriate experimental conditions in a format that meets the optical requirements of the microscope. Although customized imaging chambers can meet these challenges, the difficulty of manufacturing custom chambers and the relatively high cost and design inflexibility of commercial chambers has limited the adoption of this approach. Herein, we demonstrate the use of 3D printing to produce inexpensive, customized, live-cell imaging chambers that are compatible with a range of imaging modalities, including super-resolution microscopy. In this approach, biocompatible plastics are used to print imaging chambers designed to meet the specific needs of an experiment, followed by adhesion of the printed chamber to a glass coverslip, producing a chamber that is impermeant to liquids and that supports the growth and imaging of cells over multiple days. This approach can also be used to produce moulds for casting microfluidic devices made of polydimethylsiloxane. The utility of these chambers is demonstrated using designs for multiplex microscopy, imaging under shear, chemotaxis, and general cellular imaging. Together, this approach represents an inexpensive yet highly customizable approach for producing imaging chambers that are compatible with modern microscopy techniques.


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