On 2015 Feb 09, Benoit Kornmann commented:

Superresolution microscopy has become an indispensable tool in cell biology. Several approaches exist, all aimed at seeing smaller and smaller objects.

Here the approach to superresolution microscopy is different. Instead of trying to image small objects, the idea is to 'inflate' the object before imaging, such that it becomes big enough for standard microscopy.

The procedure starts like a standard immuno-fluorescence, but before imaging the sample, it is infused with a resin. During polyerization, the fluorophore that is on the secondary antibody becomes covalently linked to the polymer.

All proteins are then digested away and the polymer -- now bearing an imprint of the sample in the form of bound fluorophores –- is dilated to an extended conformation by desalting, leading to an isotropic enlargement of the imprint. The imprint can then be imaged at superresolution using a standard microscope.

Such a method is, of course, limited to fixed samples, but brings several advantages. For instance, the deproteination of the sample reduces scattering, allowing the imaging of thick samples.

On 2015 Feb 09, Benoit Kornmann commented:

Superresolution microscopy has become an indispensable tool in cell biology. Several approaches exist, all aimed at seeing smaller and smaller objects.

Here the approach to superresolution microscopy is different. Instead of trying to image small objects, the idea is to 'inflate' the object before imaging, such that it becomes big enough for standard microscopy.

The procedure starts like a standard immuno-fluorescence, but before imaging the sample, it is infused with a resin. During polyerization, the fluorophore that is on the secondary antibody becomes covalently linked to the polymer.

All proteins are then digested away and the polymer -- now bearing an imprint of the sample in the form of bound fluorophores –- is dilated to an extended conformation by desalting, leading to an isotropic enlargement of the imprint. The imprint can then be imaged at superresolution using a standard microscope.

Such a method is, of course, limited to fixed samples, but brings several advantages. For instance, the deproteination of the sample reduces scattering, allowing the imaging of thick samples.