What is the significance and value of successfully developing a high-end super-resolution optical microscope in China?

On February 26th, 65438, the researchers observed the cell structure with a self-developed laser scanning focusing microscope. On the same day, the national major scientific research equipment development project "Super-resolution micro-optical core components and system development" undertaken by Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology of China Academy of Sciences passed the acceptance test in Suzhou High-tech Zone, marking the successful development of high-end super-resolution optical microscope in China.

High-end microscopic systems are widely used in innovative research in frontier fields such as biology and basic medicine, especially the super-resolution microscopic optical imaging technology with the scale of 10- 100nm, which plays an irreplaceable role in today's biological and basic medical research.

Laser scanning focusing microscope, as an essential tool for biomedical experimental research, has higher resolution than traditional fluorescence microscope and can perform tomographic three-dimensional imaging. However, the thickness of the sample observed by * * * focusing microscope is generally less than 100um, so it is necessary to use two-photon microscope to observe deeper samples. The biggest advantage of two-photon microscope is the observation depth. But laser scanning focusing microscope and two-photon microscope can't get rid of the diffraction limit. In order to further explore the microscopic world, a microscope with higher resolution is needed.

The four sets of super-resolution microscopes that passed the project acceptance this time have their own characteristics, with the highest resolution of 50 nanometers. "Behind them is the complete technology and engineering system of micro-optical design, processing, manufacturing and assembly that has been developed." For example, a microscope objective with a large numerical aperture, but two objective lenses with the size of coffee capsules are assembled by more than a dozen special glass lenses with a diameter of1-30 mm. To make such a lens, a series of problems need to be solved, and more sophisticated testing equipment and strict testing standards are needed.