Modern Methods of Fluorescence Nanoscopy in Biology (A Review)

Abstract

Optical microscopy has undergone significant changes in recent decades due to the improved diffraction limit of optical resolution and the development of high-resolution imaging techniques referred to under the common name fluorescence nanoscopy. These techniques allow researchers to observe in detail biological structures and processes at a nanoscale level to reveal previously hidden features and answer basic biological questions. The advanced methods of fluorescent nanoscopy include STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) Microscopy, STORM (STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy), PALM (Photo-activated Localization Microscopy), TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence) microscopy, SIM (Structured Illumination Microscopy), MINFLUX (Minimal Photon Fluxes) microscopy, PAINT (Points Accumulation for Imaging in Nanoscale Topography), and RESOLFT (REversible Saturable Optical Fluorescence Transitions) microscopy, and others. Most these methods make it possible to obtain 3D images of the objects under study. In this review, we consider the principles of these methods, their advantages and disadvantages, and their application in biological research.