Super-Resolution Structured Illumination Microscopy of Cellular Nanopores Using Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probes

Excelitas’ Senior Imaging Product & Application Scientist Gerhard Holst, PhD, co-authored a research article in Optics Express that details the development of a novel super-resolution structured illumination microscope that is purpose-built for imaging in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range.

Currently, super-resolution optical microscopy is mostly conducted with fluorophores that are excited and that emit in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Extending this range to the NIR and even the shortwave-infrared (SWIR) part of the spectrum is highly desirable, because light in this wavelength range is less hazardous for live imaging and can penetrate much deeper into tissue.

The structured illumination microscope highlighted in the article features the Excelitas pco.edge 26 NIR for super-resolution fluorescence imaging in the NIR region. With its high pixel count and strong NIR sensitivity, the pco.edge 26 NIR camera enables extraction of precise, highly resolved image data beyond the classical optical resolution limit. By leveraging longer NIR wavelengths, which are less affected by specimen scattering and absorption, the approach further enhances imaging performance.

Read the full article, “Super-Resolution Structured Illumination Microscopy of Cellular Nanopores Using Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probes,” in Optics Express.