A team of researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed an improved mid-infrared microscope that allows them to view the inner structures of living bacteria at a nanometer scale. This breakthrough in mid-infrared microscopy has significantly increased the resolution to 120 nanometers, a thirtyfold improvement over traditional mid-infrared microscopes. This enhanced resolution enables researchers to study samples more clearly at a smaller scale, offering various applications in fields such as infectious disease research. The development of this advanced imaging technique could pave the way for even more precise mid-infrared-based imaging in the future.
The world of microscopy has allowed scientists to explore the microscopic realm where viruses, proteins, and molecules reside. While modern microscopes provide detailed views of cells, they also come with limitations. Super-resolution fluorescent microscopes require samples to be labeled with fluorescence, which can be toxic and result in bleaching of the samples with prolonged exposure to light. Electron microscopes offer impressive details but require samples to be placed in a vacuum, making it difficult to study live samples. Mid-infrared microscopy, on the other hand, can provide chemical and structural information about live cells without the need for labeling or damaging the samples.
Mid-infrared microscopy has been underutilized in biological research due to its lower resolution capabilities compared to other microscopy techniques. While super-resolution fluorescent microscopy can achieve resolutions down to tens of nanometers, traditional mid-infrared microscopy has been limited to around 3 microns. However, researchers at the University of Tokyo have broken new ground by achieving a spatial resolution of 120 nanometers, a significant improvement in mid-infrared microscopy. Using a synthetic aperture technique, the team was able to combine images taken from different angles to create a clearer overall picture and obtain a more detailed image of the samples.
The research team overcame the limitations of traditional mid-infrared microscopy by using a single lens and a synthetic aperture technique to improve the illumination of the samples with mid-infrared light. By placing the sample on a silicon plate that reflected visible light and transmitted infrared light, the researchers could observe the intracellular structures of bacteria with exceptional clarity. This higher spatial resolution opens up possibilities for studying antimicrobial resistance and other biomedical issues. The researchers believe that further improvements to the technique, such as using better lenses and shorter wavelengths of visible light, could push the spatial resolution below 100 nanometers, allowing for even more detailed studies of various cell samples.
The enhanced mid-infrared microscopy technique developed by the University of Tokyo researchers has the potential to revolutionize biological research by offering researchers a way to study live cells with high resolution without the need for labeling or damaging the samples. With the ability to visualize intracellular structures of living bacteria at a nanometer scale, researchers can delve into fundamental and applied biomedical problems, such as antimicrobial resistance, with superior clarity and precision. Continued advancements in this imaging technique could lead to further breakthroughs in various fields of research, opening up new possibilities for understanding the complexities of living organisms at a molecular level.
