30th October 2014, Belfast, UK: A novel super-resolution fluorescence microscope equipped with a low-noise, high-speed 5.5 Megapixel Andor Neo sCMOS camera has enabled the real-time nanoscopic imaging of large fields of living cells for the first time. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute in Goettingen, Germany, adopted massive parallelisation techniques to create 116,000 simultaneous scanning points and super-resolve 120 µm × 100 µm fields in less than a second.
The research was led by Professor Stefan Hell, who first advanced STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) and RESOLFT (Reversible Saturable/Switchable Optical Fluorescence Transitions) far-field, super-resolution microscopy. Although RESOLFT can capture images at video rates, until now imaging speed has been governed by the kinetics of fluorophore state transition and, more importantly, the number of scanning steps required to cover the field of view.
Reporting their results in Nature Methods, the team reconciled the major goals of nanoscopy development: low-intensity operation, large fields of view, and fast recording, at a resolution not limited by diffraction. They demonstrated that RESOLFT nonlinear structured illumination can be parallelised using two incoherently superimposed orthogonal standing light waves. The intensity minima of the resulting pattern act as imaging 'doughnuts', providing isotropic resolution in the focal plane and making pattern rotation redundant.
"Super-resolution far-field fluorescence microscopy, which relies on fluorophores transiently assuming different 'on' and 'off' states, is theoretically capable of resolution without any optical limit," says Orla Hanrahan, product specialist at Andor. "Professor Hell has now demonstrated the power of parallelised RESOLFT with a 2D array of 116,000 intensity zero 'doughnuts'. The result is super-fast, super-resolution of living cells with the recording speed lim¬ited only by the state transition kinetics of the fluorophore and the camera frame rate.
"Despite the enormous advancements brought about by electron and scanning probe microscopy, light microscopy uniquely provides non-invasive, 3D imaging of the interior of cells and allows the detection of specific cellular constituents. The advancement in nanosopy demonstrated by Professor Hell and his associates brings much nearer the time when working scientists can easily count molecules in cells in a very simple way and has the potential to revolutionise molecular and cell biology and transform medical and pharmaceutical research."
The Andor Neo 5.5 megapixel sCMOS camera is a unique -40°C vacuum cooled platform designed around a superb, low noise 5.5 megapixel sensor with 6.5 µm pixels and a 22mm diameter to drive lowest possible dark noise. Ideal for cell microscopy, astronomy, digital pathology, and high content screening, the Neo 5.5 delivers an unmatched 30 fps sustained or up to 100 fps burst mode to its internal 4GB memory. The Rolling and Global shutter flexibility further enhances application flexibility, Global shutter in particular offering an ideal means to simply and efficiently synchronize the Neo with other 'moving' devices such as stages or light switching sources and eliminating the possibility of spatial distortion when imaging fast moving objects.
The image above is available for download. Either click on the image or contact John Waite at Catalyst Communications. References
• Andriy Chmyrov, Jan Keller, Tim Grotjohann, Michael Ratz, Elisa d'Este, Stefan Jakobs, Christian Eggeling & Stefan W Hell. Nanoscopy with more than 100,000 'doughnuts', Nature Methods 10, 737-740 (2013), doi:10.1038/nmeth.2556
About Andor
Andor is a global leader in the pioneering and manufacturing of high performance scientific imaging cameras, spectroscopy solutions and microscopy systems for research and OEM markets. Andor has been innovating the photonics industry for over 20 years and continues to set the standard for high performance light measuring solutions, enabling its customers to break new ground by performing light measurements previously considered impossible. Andor's digital cameras, are allowing scientists around the world to measure light down to a single photon and capture events occurring within 1 billionth of a second.
Andor now has over 400 staff across 16 offices worldwide, distributing products to over 10,000 customers in 55 countries. Andor's products are used in a wide range of applications including medical research to further the understanding of heart disease, cancer and neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Andor also has applications for forensic science and astronomy. Through continuous dialogue with customers and strong teamwork, Andor continues to innovate ground-breaking products that improve the world in which we live.
More information is available at www.andor.com.
About Oxford Instruments plc
Oxford Instruments designs, supplies and supports high-technology tools and systems with a focus on research and industrial applications. Innovation has been the driving force behind Oxford Instruments' growth and success for over 50 years, and its strategy is to effect the successful commercialisation of these ideas by bringing them to market in a timely and customer-focused fashion.
The first technology business to be spun out from Oxford University, Oxford Instruments is now a global company with over 2300 staff worldwide and is listed on the FTSE250 index of the London Stock Exchange (OXIG). Its objective is to be the leading provider of new generation tools and systems for the research and industrial sectors with a focus on nanotechnology. Its key market sectors include nano-fabrication and nano-materials. The company's strategy is to expand the business into the life sciences arena, where nanotechnology and biotechnology intersect.
This involves the combination of core technologies in areas such as low temperature, high magnetic field and ultra high vacuum environments; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; x-ray, electron, laser and optical based metrology; atomic force microscopy; optical imaging; advanced growth, deposition and etching.
Oxford Instruments aims to pursue responsible development and deeper understanding of our world through science and technology. Its products, expertise, and ideas address global issues such as energy, environment, security and health. For further information, please contact Andor Technology direct or their marketing agency, Catalyst Communications.
Andor Technology plc.
Corporate Headquarters
7 Millennium Way
Springvale Business Park
Belfast BT12 7AL
+44 (0) 28 9027 0812
Andor website
press@andor.com
Catalyst Communications
The Annexe
2 Crispin Way
Farnham Common
Buckinghamshire SL2 3UE
+44 (0) 1753 648 140
john.waite@catalystpr.com
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.
The research was led by Professor Stefan Hell, who first advanced STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) and RESOLFT (Reversible Saturable/Switchable Optical Fluorescence Transitions) far-field, super-resolution microscopy. Although RESOLFT can capture images at video rates, until now imaging speed has been governed by the kinetics of fluorophore state transition and, more importantly, the number of scanning steps required to cover the field of view.
Reporting their results in Nature Methods, the team reconciled the major goals of nanoscopy development: low-intensity operation, large fields of view, and fast recording, at a resolution not limited by diffraction. They demonstrated that RESOLFT nonlinear structured illumination can be parallelised using two incoherently superimposed orthogonal standing light waves. The intensity minima of the resulting pattern act as imaging 'doughnuts', providing isotropic resolution in the focal plane and making pattern rotation redundant.
"Super-resolution far-field fluorescence microscopy, which relies on fluorophores transiently assuming different 'on' and 'off' states, is theoretically capable of resolution without any optical limit," says Orla Hanrahan, product specialist at Andor. "Professor Hell has now demonstrated the power of parallelised RESOLFT with a 2D array of 116,000 intensity zero 'doughnuts'. The result is super-fast, super-resolution of living cells with the recording speed lim¬ited only by the state transition kinetics of the fluorophore and the camera frame rate.
"Despite the enormous advancements brought about by electron and scanning probe microscopy, light microscopy uniquely provides non-invasive, 3D imaging of the interior of cells and allows the detection of specific cellular constituents. The advancement in nanosopy demonstrated by Professor Hell and his associates brings much nearer the time when working scientists can easily count molecules in cells in a very simple way and has the potential to revolutionise molecular and cell biology and transform medical and pharmaceutical research."
The Andor Neo 5.5 megapixel sCMOS camera is a unique -40°C vacuum cooled platform designed around a superb, low noise 5.5 megapixel sensor with 6.5 µm pixels and a 22mm diameter to drive lowest possible dark noise. Ideal for cell microscopy, astronomy, digital pathology, and high content screening, the Neo 5.5 delivers an unmatched 30 fps sustained or up to 100 fps burst mode to its internal 4GB memory. The Rolling and Global shutter flexibility further enhances application flexibility, Global shutter in particular offering an ideal means to simply and efficiently synchronize the Neo with other 'moving' devices such as stages or light switching sources and eliminating the possibility of spatial distortion when imaging fast moving objects.
The image above is available for download. Either click on the image or contact John Waite at Catalyst Communications. References
• Andriy Chmyrov, Jan Keller, Tim Grotjohann, Michael Ratz, Elisa d'Este, Stefan Jakobs, Christian Eggeling & Stefan W Hell. Nanoscopy with more than 100,000 'doughnuts', Nature Methods 10, 737-740 (2013), doi:10.1038/nmeth.2556
About Andor
Andor is a global leader in the pioneering and manufacturing of high performance scientific imaging cameras, spectroscopy solutions and microscopy systems for research and OEM markets. Andor has been innovating the photonics industry for over 20 years and continues to set the standard for high performance light measuring solutions, enabling its customers to break new ground by performing light measurements previously considered impossible. Andor's digital cameras, are allowing scientists around the world to measure light down to a single photon and capture events occurring within 1 billionth of a second.
Andor now has over 400 staff across 16 offices worldwide, distributing products to over 10,000 customers in 55 countries. Andor's products are used in a wide range of applications including medical research to further the understanding of heart disease, cancer and neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Andor also has applications for forensic science and astronomy. Through continuous dialogue with customers and strong teamwork, Andor continues to innovate ground-breaking products that improve the world in which we live.
More information is available at www.andor.com.
About Oxford Instruments plc
Oxford Instruments designs, supplies and supports high-technology tools and systems with a focus on research and industrial applications. Innovation has been the driving force behind Oxford Instruments' growth and success for over 50 years, and its strategy is to effect the successful commercialisation of these ideas by bringing them to market in a timely and customer-focused fashion.
The first technology business to be spun out from Oxford University, Oxford Instruments is now a global company with over 2300 staff worldwide and is listed on the FTSE250 index of the London Stock Exchange (OXIG). Its objective is to be the leading provider of new generation tools and systems for the research and industrial sectors with a focus on nanotechnology. Its key market sectors include nano-fabrication and nano-materials. The company's strategy is to expand the business into the life sciences arena, where nanotechnology and biotechnology intersect.
This involves the combination of core technologies in areas such as low temperature, high magnetic field and ultra high vacuum environments; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; x-ray, electron, laser and optical based metrology; atomic force microscopy; optical imaging; advanced growth, deposition and etching.
Oxford Instruments aims to pursue responsible development and deeper understanding of our world through science and technology. Its products, expertise, and ideas address global issues such as energy, environment, security and health. For further information, please contact Andor Technology direct or their marketing agency, Catalyst Communications.
Andor Technology plc.
Corporate Headquarters
7 Millennium Way
Springvale Business Park
Belfast BT12 7AL
+44 (0) 28 9027 0812
Andor website
press@andor.com
Catalyst Communications
The Annexe
2 Crispin Way
Farnham Common
Buckinghamshire SL2 3UE
+44 (0) 1753 648 140
john.waite@catalystpr.com
Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.
