Microsphere Super-resolution Imaging

TL;DR

Microsphere nanoscopy is a novel super-resolution imaging technique that achieves 50 nm resolution in real-time without labels, enabling detailed imaging of both biological and non-biological samples.

Contribution

This paper reviews the development, mechanisms, and applications of microsphere nanoscopy, highlighting its ability to surpass diffraction limits in super-resolution imaging.

Findings

Achieves 50 nm resolution under white light

Imaging of biological and non-biological samples in real time

No labeling required for high-resolution imaging

Abstract

Recently, it was discovered that microsphere can generate super-resolution focusing beyond diffraction limit. This has led to the development of an exciting super-resolution imaging technique -microsphere nanoscopy- that features a record resolution of 50 nm under white lights. Different samples have been directly imaged in high resolution and real time without labelling, including both non-biological (nano devices, structures and materials) and biological (subcellular details, viruses) samples. This chapter reviews the technique, which covers its background, fundamentals, experiments, mechanisms as well as the future outlook.