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Sub-diffraction-limit cell imaging using a super-resolution microscope with simplified pulse synchronization

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Abstract

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscope is one of the most prominent super-resolution bio-imaging instruments, which holds great promise for ultrahigh-resolution imaging of cells. To construct a STED microscope, it is challenging to realize temporal synchronization between the excitation pulses and the depletion pulses. In this study, we present a simple and low-cost method to achieve pulse synchronization by using a condensed fluorescent dye as a depletion indicator. By using this method, almost all the confocal microscopes can be upgraded to a STED system without losing its original functions. After the pulse synchronization, our STED system achieved sub-100-nm resolution for fluorescent nanospheres and single-cell imaging.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21227804, 21390414, 61378062, 21505148), and the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (15ZR1448400, 14ZR1448000).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Physical Biology & Bioimaging Center, Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility; CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology; Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China

    Zhaoshuai Gao, Suhui Deng, Jiang Li, Kun Wang, Jiajun Li, Lihua Wang & Chunhai Fan

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zhaoshuai Gao

  3. School of Information Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China

    Suhui Deng

Authors
  1. Zhaoshuai Gao
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  2. Suhui Deng
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  3. Jiang Li
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  4. Kun Wang
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  5. Jiajun Li
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  6. Lihua Wang
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  7. Chunhai Fan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiajun Li.

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Gao, Z., Deng, S., Li, J. et al. Sub-diffraction-limit cell imaging using a super-resolution microscope with simplified pulse synchronization. Sci. China Chem. 60, 1305–1309 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-016-9028-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-016-9028-5

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