Combination of Methods Gives New Microscope Enhanced Resolution and Multiplexing Capabilities

Scientists from the Universities of Göttingen and Oxford, in collaboration with the University Medical Center Göttingen, have developed a fluorescence microscope that they say is capable of achieving resolutions better than five nanometers. This breakthrough, published in Nature Photonics, represents a significant leap in cellular imaging technology.

The new microscope surpasses the limitations of standard microscopes, which typically have a resolution threshold of about 200 nanometers. This advancement allows researchers to observe cellular structures previously too small to image clearly, such as the seven-nanometer-wide scaffolding of fine tubes within human cells and the 10 to 50-nanometer synaptic cleft between nerve cells.

The technology builds upon single-molecule localization microscopy, where individual fluorescent molecules in a sample are switched on and off, and their positions are precisely determined. The Göttingen team, led by Professor Jörg Enderlein, enhanced this technique using a highly sensitive detector and specialized data analysis, effectively doubling the resolution of current methods.

"This newly developed technology is a milestone in the field of high-resolution microscopy. It not only offers resolutions in the single-digit nanometer range, but it is also particularly cost-effective and easy to use compared to other methods," explains Professor Enderlein.

To promote widespread adoption of this technology, the research team has developed and released an open-source software package for data processing. This move ensures that this advanced microscopy technique will be accessible to a broad range of specialists.