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Super-resolution microscopy enabled by high-efficiency surface-migration emission depletion

Author

Listed:
  • Rui Pu

    (South China Normal University)

  • Qiuqiang Zhan

    (South China Normal University
    South China Normal University
    South China Normal University)

  • Xingyun Peng

    (South China Normal University)

  • Siying Liu

    (South China Normal University)

  • Xin Guo

    (South China Normal University)

  • Liangliang Liang

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Xian Qin

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Ziqing Winston Zhao

    (National University of Singapore
    National University of Singapore
    National University of Singapore)

  • Xiaogang Liu

    (National University of Singapore
    National University of Singapore)

Abstract

Nonlinear depletion of fluorescence states by stimulated emission constitutes the basis of stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy. Despite significant efforts over the past decade, achieving super-resolution at low saturation intensities by STED remains a major technical challenge. By harnessing the surface quenching effect in NaGdF4:Yb/Tm nanocrystals, we report here high-efficiency emission depletion through surface migration. Using a dual-beam, continuous-wave laser manipulation scheme (975-nm excitation and 730-nm de-excitation), we achieved an emission depletion efficiency of over 95% and a low saturation intensity of 18.3 kW cm−2. Emission depletion by surface migration through gadolinium sublattices enables super-resolution imaging with sub-20 nm lateral resolution. Our approach circumvents the fundamental limitation of high-intensity STED microscopy, providing autofluorescence-free, re-excitation-background-free imaging with a saturation intensity over three orders of magnitude lower than conventional fluorophores. We also demonstrated super-resolution imaging of actin filaments in Hela cells labeled with 8-nm nanoparticles. Combined with the highly photostable lanthanide luminescence, surface-migration emission depletion (SMED) could provide a powerful mechanism for low-power, super-resolution imaging or biological tracking as well as super-resolved optical sensing/writing and lithography.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Pu & Qiuqiang Zhan & Xingyun Peng & Siying Liu & Xin Guo & Liangliang Liang & Xian Qin & Ziqing Winston Zhao & Xiaogang Liu, 2022. "Super-resolution microscopy enabled by high-efficiency surface-migration emission depletion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-33726-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33726-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Katrin I. Willig & Silvio O. Rizzoli & Volker Westphal & Reinhard Jahn & Stefan W. Hell, 2006. "STED microscopy reveals that synaptotagmin remains clustered after synaptic vesicle exocytosis," Nature, Nature, vol. 440(7086), pages 935-939, April.
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