mirAO

mirAO is a novel microscopy technique that enables imaging of biological samples with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. Developed by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, it combines principles of stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy with adaptive optics. The core innovation lies in the use of a wavefront sensor and a deformable mirror to correct for optical aberrations in real-time, allowing for deeper and clearer imaging within living cells and tissues.

The technique works by employing a depletion laser to confine the excitation volume to a diffraction-unlimited region, a principle central to STED microscopy. However, mirAO goes a step further by actively compensating for distortions introduced by the sample itself, such as refractive index mismatches and scattering. This adaptive optics component significantly enhances the signal-to-noise ratio and image quality, particularly in thicker or more complex biological specimens.

mirAO has demonstrated its utility in a variety of biological applications. It has been used to observe fast molecular dynamics within organelles, track individual protein movements in live cells, and visualize neuronal activity with high fidelity. The ability to maintain high resolution over extended periods and at greater depths opens new avenues for studying dynamic biological processes that were previously inaccessible to conventional microscopy. Its development represents a significant advancement in super-resolution microscopy, offering a powerful tool for researchers in cell biology, neuroscience, and developmental biology.