ESRIC Techniques
Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED)
Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM)
Single Molecule Localisation Microscopy (SMLM - dSTORM, PALM, DNA-PAINT)
super-resolution by optical pixel reassignment (SORA)
Super-Resolution Radial Fluctuations (SRRF)
Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM, including FLIM-FRET)
ESRIC Systems
Leica SP8 gSTED, TauSTED and FLIM
Time gated-STED (gSTED) and lifetime-gated STED (Tau STED) can be performed on the SP8 system at the Heriot Watt site. Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy is a super-resolution technique capable of below 50nm resolution in XY or 70nm resolution in all three dimensions. This resolution is achieved through the selective depletion of fluorescent molecules using two synchronised lasers. Improved resolution can be acheived in 3D, in up to 4 colours and in live samples. This system can also perform fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM).
Nikon N-SIM and SoRa
SIM + SoRa are available on a single dual-function system at the IGC site. Nikon N-SIM Structured Illumination Microscopy utilises a structured light pattern to image fluorophores within a biological specimen in 3D at double the conventional resolution. This technique can achieve down to 120 nm in xy and 300 nm in z (sample dependent) in 4 colours. SoRa uses a modified spinning disk to enable optical photon reassignment. This technique allows fast imaging with resolutions down to 150 nm in xy and 300 nm in z in 4 colours.
Nikon N-STORM
The Nikon-STORM at the IGC site can perform single molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM) techniques in either TIRF or widefield mode with 2D or 3D imaging functionalty. Compatible SMLM modalities include dSTORM, PALM and DNA-PAINT. These techniques can achieve resolutions down to 5nm is xy and 50nm in Z.
Olympus IX81 Cell-Xcellence
The Olympus IX81 at the Heriot Watt site can perform single molecule localisation microscopy (SMLM) techniques in either TIRF or widefield mode with 2D or 3D imaging functionalty. Compatible SMLM modalities include dSTORM, PALM and DNA-PAINT. These techniques can achieve resolutions down to 5nm is xy and 50nm in Z.