New Microscopy Method Sees Tiny Details with Just One Laser

Topic: Biology

Scientists at MIT have created a new way to see tiny details in cells. They used special particles that blink on and off when exposed to light, allowing them to take very precise pictures of molecules. This method is much simpler and more accurate than previous techniques.

Researchers in the lab of Sam Peng, a professor at MIT, have developed a new way to see tiny details in cells using a technique called U-STORM (Upconversion-enabled Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy). This method uses special particles that blink on and off when exposed to light, allowing scientists to take very precise pictures of molecules. Unlike traditional dyes that fade quickly under illumination, these particles can keep blinking indefinitely.

The team's discovery is significant because it allows for much higher precision than previous methods. They were able to collect over 88,000 localization events from the same particle, which is a tiny unit of measurement called an angstrom (0.6 Å). This means that scientists can now see details at the atomic level with greater accuracy.

One of the key advantages of U-STORM is that it requires only one near-infrared laser to excite the particles and capture multiple colors simultaneously. This simplifies the imaging process and makes it more efficient. The team has already demonstrated this by mapping epidermal growth factor receptor dimers and multimers in biological samples under physiological conditions.

This research not only expands our understanding of microscopy but also establishes a new design principle for lanthanide nanomaterials.

Why It Matters

This breakthrough could lead to better treatments for diseases, as scientists can now see tiny details in cells that were previously invisible. It could also improve our understanding of how living things work at the molecular level.

Key Facts

• Scientists at MIT have developed a new microscopy method called U-STORM that uses special particles to take precise pictures of molecules.
• The method requires only one near-infrared laser and can capture multiple colors simultaneously.
• U-STORM has achieved an unprecedented localization precision of 0.6 Å, which is three orders of magnitude beyond the limits of standard fluorescent dyes.
• The team's discovery uses a new class of compositionally engineered upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) that blink spontaneously and indefinitely.
• This research establishes a new design principle for lanthanide nanomaterials.

Key Terms

angstrom

a tiny unit of measurement used by chemists to measure sizes and distances at the atomic level

upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs)

special particles that blink on and off when exposed to light

Implications

This breakthrough could lead to better treatments for diseases, as scientists can now see tiny details in cells that were previously invisible. It could also improve our understanding of how living things work at the molecular level.