Super-Resolution Microscopes

Conventional light microscopes have long been limited in resolution to around 200 nm in width and 500 nm in depth due to the nature of light diffraction. Imaging at much greater magnifications would have required the use of electron microscopes. However, resolution down to tens of nanometers in width and a few hundred nanometers in depth is now possible with light microscopy thanks to imaging innovations such as STED, SIM, STORM, PALM, and FPALM. A new class of “Super-Resolution” microscopes is now available, each tailored to suit a wide variety of imaging applications, such as 3D fluorescence imaging, live-cell imaging, colocalization, and even in vivo imaging. Listed below are microscopes and imaging systems from various manufacturers that are capable of super-resolution bioimaging.