The resolution of standard light microscopy is limited due to diffraction, with an optimised configuration unable to resolve two points separated by a distance less than ~250 nm. Reducing this distance will result in the points appearing as a single object meaning that it is not possible to use standard light microscopy to directly visualise the details of biological structures that are less than ~250 nm in size.

Super resolution microscopy (SRM), sometimes called optical nanoscopy, is a term covering a variety of light microscopy techniques that enable imaging below the diffraction limit. The Facility's SRM system combines two different methods of super resolution imaging: Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) and Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM).  SIM is compatible with many commonly used fluorescent dyes and fluorescent proteins, but 'only' offers twice the resolution achievable with standard fluorescence microscopy.  STORM requires the use of specific fluorophores and a special imaging buffer, but can achieve an order of magnitude enhancement in the resolution over standard fluorescence microscopy.  Both methods have their strengths and weaknesses, but having the two options available means we can apply the best approach to a specific problem, or combine the techniques for a complimentary approach.

Our System: