Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Super-Resolution Imaging

Abstract

Super-resolution imaging techniques that overcome the diffraction limit of light have gained wide popularity for visualizing cellular structures with nanometric resolution. Following the pace of hardware developments, the availability of new fluorescent probes with superior properties is becoming ever more important. In this context, fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted increasing attention as bright and photostable probes that address many shortcomings of traditional fluorescent probes. The use of NPs for super-resolution imaging is a recent development and this provides the focus for the current review. We give an overview of different super-resolution methods and discuss their demands on the properties of fluorescent NPs. We then review in detail the features, strengths, and weaknesses of each NP class to support these applications and provide examples from their utilization in various biological systems. Moreover, we provide an outlook on the future of the field and opportunities in material science for the development of probes for multiplexed subcellular imaging with nanometric resolution.

Nanoparticles for super-resolution microscopy: intracellular delivery and molecular targeting

“…Polymer dots and modified upconversion nanoparticles are more flexible in this regard and they improve both the photoblinking and photostability characteristics of their guest fluorophores (e.g., organic dyes, metal complexes). 168,169 These advantages are balanced by the vastly increased size of these nanoparticle systems in relatation to the luminophores on their own, and this creates limitations for biological applications.…”

“…, organic dyes, metal complexes). 168,169 These advantages are balanced by the vastly increased size of these nanoparticle systems in relatation to the luminophores on their own, and this creates limitations for biological applications.…”

Construction of carbon dots/metal–organic framework composite for ratiometric sensing of norfloxacin

“…[21][22][23] Compared with conventional phosphors, such as fluorescent dyestuffs and nanocrystals, CDs have the advantages of good biocompatibility, easy synthesis and functionalization, excellent water solubility, and chemical stability (photobleaching resistance). 24,25 In this work, the g-CDs@UiO-66 composite material with an excellent optical performance was constructed. The synthesized g-CDs@UiO-66 simultaneously inherits the luminescence performance of g-CDs and UiO-66, and exhibits good structural stability and fluorescence stability in aqueous solution.…”

Nanometer Resolution Imaging and Tracking of Single Fluorophores by Sequential Structured Illumination

“…24−28 Lastly, fluorescent nanodiamonds (NDs) have shown great potential for nanoimaging, as they provide a virtually unlimited budget of fluorescent photons and are extremely stable even under high-power illumination. 29,30 Yet, there are still some challenges preventing their broad use in super-resolution imaging, such as their relatively large size (methods for the production of NDs smaller than 10 nm are still lacking), their spectral properties being not easily tuned, and their conjugation to biomolecules or materials being not trivial.…”