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Reactivatable stimulated emission depletion microscopy using fluorescence-recoverable nanographene

Author

Listed:
  • Qiqi Yang

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Antonio Virgilio Failla

    (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf)

  • Petri Turunen

    (Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH)

  • Ana Mateos-Maroto

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Meiyu Gai

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Werner Zuschratter

    (Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology)

  • Sophia Westendorf

    (University of Tuebingen)

  • Márton Gelléri

    (Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH)

  • Qiang Chen

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Goudappagouda

    (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University)

  • Hao Zhao

    (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University)

  • Xingfu Zhu

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Svenja Morsbach

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Marcus Scheele

    (University of Tuebingen)

  • Wei Yan

    (Westlake University)

  • Katharina Landfester

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Ryota Kabe

    (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University)

  • Mischa Bonn

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

  • Akimitsu Narita

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
    Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University)

  • Xiaomin Liu

    (Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research)

Abstract

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, a key optical super-resolution imaging method, has extended our ability to view details to resolution levels of tens of nanometers. Its resolution depends on fluorophore de-excitation efficiency, and increases with depletion laser power. However, high-power irradiation permanently turns off the fluorescence due to photo-bleaching of the fluorophores. As a result, there is a trade-off between spatial resolution and imaging time. Here, we overcome this limitation by introducing reactivatable STED (ReSTED) based on the photophysical properties of the nanographene dibenzo[hi,st]ovalene (DBOV). In contrast to the photo-induced decomposition of other fluorophores, the fluorescence of DBOV is only temporarily deactivated and can be reactivated by near-infrared light (including the 775 nm depletion beam). As a result, this fluorophore allows for hours-long, high-resolution 3D STED imaging, greatly expanding the applications of STED microscopy.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiqi Yang & Antonio Virgilio Failla & Petri Turunen & Ana Mateos-Maroto & Meiyu Gai & Werner Zuschratter & Sophia Westendorf & Márton Gelléri & Qiang Chen & Goudappagouda & Hao Zhao & Xingfu Zhu & Sve, 2025. "Reactivatable stimulated emission depletion microscopy using fluorescence-recoverable nanographene," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56401-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56401-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Víctor Bonal & Rafael Muñoz-Mármol & Fernando Gordillo Gámez & Marta Morales-Vidal & José M. Villalvilla & Pedro G. Boj & José A. Quintana & Yanwei Gu & Jishan Wu & Juan Casado & María A. Díaz-García, 2019. "Solution-processed nanographene distributed feedback lasers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Qiuqiang Zhan & Haichun Liu & Baoju Wang & Qiusheng Wu & Rui Pu & Chao Zhou & Bingru Huang & Xingyun Peng & Hans Ågren & Sailing He, 2017. "Achieving high-efficiency emission depletion nanoscopy by employing cross relaxation in upconversion nanoparticles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Rui Pu & Qiuqiang Zhan & Xingyun Peng & Siying Liu & Xin Guo & Liangliang Liang & Xian Qin & Ziqing Winston Zhao & Xiaogang Liu, 2022. "Super-resolution microscopy enabled by high-efficiency surface-migration emission depletion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Yujia Liu & Yiqing Lu & Xusan Yang & Xianlin Zheng & Shihui Wen & Fan Wang & Xavier Vidal & Jiangbo Zhao & Deming Liu & Zhiguang Zhou & Chenshuo Ma & Jiajia Zhou & James A. Piper & Peng Xi & Dayong Ji, 2017. "Amplified stimulated emission in upconversion nanoparticles for super-resolution nanoscopy," Nature, Nature, vol. 543(7644), pages 229-233, March.
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