May. 13, 2013

Unmask the Hidden without Probes: CARS

Fluorescence microscopy assumed a pivotal role in cell biology once it was possible to stain cell components selectively by fluorescing dyes. One of the first explorers of targeted stainings, Paul Ehrlich, had the idea that something that stains specifically should also kill specifically - which was associated with the term "magic bullet", the essential idea of chemotherapy. His group discovered Salvarsan, a tailored drug against syphilis - though not specific enough not to cause substantial side effects. moreApr. 02, 2013

Molecularly Resolved Cellulose Nitrate

The development of nanostructured lacquers and propellants needs to master the cellulose nitrate processing on the nanoscale. The challenge is the deposition of single cellulose nitrate molecules to image them with molecular resolution. We report on the effect of solvent, shaking duration and deposition techniques, from which the spray technique succeeded, for the first time to our knowledge, to image by Atomic Force Microscopy, individual molecular cellulose nitrate polymeric chains.
moreMar. 25, 2013

Nano-FTIR - The Chemical Nanoscope

We show identification of chemical compounds and chemical maps at 20 nm resolution, enabled by a novel combination of infrared spectroscopy and near-field microscopy. Nano-FTIR returns the surface topography and simultaneously the local mid-infrared spectrum of the tiny volume (20 nm3) just below the probing tip thus allowing correlative topography/hyperspectral infrared images. In the case of molecular substances, comparison with common infrared databases enables local chemical recognition.
moreMar. 18, 2013

Light Sheet Ultramicroscopy

We developed a new ultramicroscopy design equipped with modified optics to achieve 3D-vizualizations of specimens with μm-resolution. The optical unit consists of elements with complex surface structures to create an ultra-thin light sheet. Diffraction and other unwanted optical effects are minimized, while the laser energy is used more efficiently. This enables us to obtain marked enhancements in resolving fine details of specimens (e.g. fruit-flies, entire mouse brains, and mouse hippocampi).
moreDec. 13, 2012

VP-SEM: Unsung Hero of SEM Imaging

Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy (VP-SEM) has become an important tool for the imaging of hydrated specimens and samples with low conductivity. This article outlines various research scenarios where VP-SEM allowed minimal sample processing that often enabled successive specimen reuse. We present cases where these characteristics allowed imaging of specimens otherwise impossible using conventional SEM methods.
moreSep. 10, 2012

Handbook of Nanoscopy

This completely revised successor to the Handbook of Microscopy supplies in-depth coverage of all imaging technologies from the optical to the electron and scanning techniques. Adopting a twofold approach, the book firstly presents the various technologies as such, before going on to cover the materials class by class, analyzing how the different imaging methods can be successfully applied.
moreFeb. 17, 2012

Imaging Software from Molecular Devices is Integrated in Andor´s Revolution DSD

Andor Technology has announced that they come together with Molecular Devices to integrate the imaging software solution Metamorph NX in Andor´s confocal imaging unit Revolution DSD. moreJan. 13, 2012

Ultra-Microscope Sees Through Spinal Cord

Scientists from the Technical University in Vienna and the Max-Planck-Institute of Neurobiology in Munich have developed a new microscopy technique to analyze in detail nerve cells in the spinal cord. Nerve cells from the spinal cord are able to regenerate after being damaged. How this happens has not been easy to investigate: to see into the inner structure of spinal cord tissue it was necessary until now to cut samples into thin slices to be investigated separately.
moreDec. 14, 2011

Visualization of DNA-Synthesis In Vivo

Researchers of the University of Zurich have discovered a new substance for labelling and visualization of DNA synthesis in whole animals. Applications for this technique include identifying the sites of virus infections and cancer growth, due to the abundance of DNA replication in these tissues. This approach should therefore lead to new strategies in drug development. moreNov. 07, 2011

Basics of Light Microscopy & Imaging

The second edition of Olympus special edition "Basics of Light Microscopy & Imaging" ist now online.
You can read and order the issue here. more