Superresolution Microscopy

Superresolution optical microscopy is a rapidly evolving area of fluorescence microscopy with a tremendous potential for impacting many fields of science. Several superresolution methods have been developed over the last decade, all capable of overcoming the fundamental diffraction limit of light.

Superresolution Optical Fluctuation Imaging (SOFI) is a new approach for obtaining sub-diffraction limit optical resolution in all three dimensions. This method relies on higher-order statistical analysis of temporal fluctuations (caused by fluorescence blinking/intermittency) recorded in a sequence of images (movie). By applying this method a fivefold improvement in spatial resolution using a conventional wide-field microscope can be obtained. This resolution enhancement is achieved in iterative discrete steps, which in turn allows to evaluate images at different resolution levels. Even at the lowest level of resolution enhancement, SOFI features significant background reduction and thus contrast-enhancement.

For more information and references see:

Dertinger et al. PNAS 106, 2009, 22287–22292
Dertinger et al. Opt. Expr. 18, 2010, 18875-18885.