Work

Breaking the diffraction limit in molecular imaging by structured illumination mid-infrared photothermal microscopy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Super-resolution microscopy techniques have revolutionized biological imaging by breaking the optical diffraction limit, yet most methods rely on fluorescent labels that provide limited chemical information. Although vibrational imaging based on Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy offers intrinsic molecular contrast, achieving both high spatial resolution and high chemical specificity remains challenging due to weak signal levels. We demonstrate structured illumination mid-infrared photothermal microscopy (SIMIP) as an emerging imaging platform that provides chemical bond selectivity and high-speed, widefield detection beyond the diffraction limit. By modulating fluorescence quantum yield through vibrational infrared absorption, SIMIP enables both nanoscale spatial resolution and high-fidelity IR spectral acquisition. The synergy of enhanced resolution and chemical specificity positions SIMIP as a versatile tool for studying complex biological systems and advanced materials, offering new opportunities across biomedicine and materials science.

Source: Advanced Photonics

DOI: 10.1117/1.ap.7.3.036003

Authors: Pengcheng Fu, Bo Chen, Yongqing Zhang, Liangyi Chen, Hyeon Jeong Lee, Delong Zhang

Institutions: Zhejiang University, Peking University, Center for Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology

Language: English

Topic: Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research

Subfield: Biophysics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province