High Quality Single Molecule Imaging and Analysis in Cells

Olympus, a leading manufacturer of professional opto-digital products, has launched the NA 1.7 APON100×HOTIRF objective for the imaging of intracellular molecules. With a world record-breaking numerical aperture (NA) of 1.7, the objective achieves the highest Z-resolution ever recorded for a Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscope. The benefits for research using TIRF microscopy include extremely thin penetration depth and high signal-to-noise ratio, making the lens ideal for single molecule dynamic studies and super resolution applications.

Due to its high NA, the NA 1.7 APON100×HOTIRF objective from Olympus is ideal for a range of applications requiring super-high Z-resolution and sensitive fluorescent detection. This is achieved through outstanding optical design and the utilisation of a special sapphire glass, used in combination with a low auto-fluorescence (reduced noise) immersion oil that has a very high refraction index. The lens improves single molecule dynamic studies due to the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio offered when detecting surface-bound molecules, with minimal background emission from molecules in the surrounding solution.

The new objective is also designed to provide the optical performance required for super resolution applications and TIRF co-localisation studies, with extremely high spatial resolution generated by thin optical slices at the surface of the specimen. With a magnification of x 100, the new TIRF objective is also well suited for in vitro TIRF microscopy, for example when studying cytoskeletal dynamics or other cellular components in solution.

Responsible for producing the first ever commercial TIRF system, Olympus is a world-leader in providing advanced TIRF microscopy solutions. Olympus’ excellence in technical innovation has produced the largest range of TIRF objectives on the market and the cell^tirf illuminator, which allows researchers to take their investigations of molecular interactions at or near the cell surface to another level.

The illuminator boasts a series of powerful features, including highly advanced optics, unique independent laser control and exceptional accuracy, enabling ultra-sensitive simultaneous multi-colour TIRF microscopy, with 4 laser channels and independent beam paths. Integration into the Olympus xcellence system allows the fast, flexible visualisation of intracellular molecular events with exceptional speed, sensitivity and resolution.