Dynamic nano-imaging of label-free living cells using electron beam excitation-assisted optical microscope

Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 3:5:16068. doi: 10.1038/srep16068.

Abstract

Optical microscopes are effective tools for cellular function analysis because biological cells can be observed non-destructively and non-invasively in the living state in either water or atmosphere condition. Label-free optical imaging technique such as phase-contrast microscopy has been analysed many cellular functions, and it is essential technology for bioscience field. However, the diffraction limit of light makes it is difficult to image nano-structures in a label-free living cell, for example the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi body and the localization of proteins. Here we demonstrate the dynamic imaging of a label-free cell with high spatial resolution by using an electron beam excitation-assisted optical (EXA) microscope. We observed the dynamic movement of the nucleus and nano-scale granules in living cells with better than 100 nm spatial resolution and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) around 10. Our results contribute to the development of cellular function analysis and open up new bioscience applications.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Electrons
  • Gold / chemistry
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast*
  • Particle Size
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio
  • Silicates / chemistry
  • Time-Lapse Imaging
  • Zinc Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Silicates
  • Zinc Compounds
  • Gold
  • zinc silicate