"Feinberg investigators now have access to one of the most advanced super-resolution imaging systems in the world, thanks to the installation of the MIRAVA Polyscope at the Center for Advanced Microscopy (CAM) at Northwestern University. This groundbreaking instrument-developed by Nobel Laureate Stefan Hell-is the first of its kind in the United States and among the first fully operational systems worldwide. The MIRAVA Polyscope combines two powerful technologies: 3D STED (stimulated emission depletion) and 2D MINFLUX (minimal photon flux), enabling investigators to achieve localization precision down to three nanometers. That's a 30-fold improvement over most super-resolution technologies and nearly 70 times better than confocal microscopy."
""This instrument fills a critical gap in our imaging capabilities," said Dina Arvanitis, PhD, director of CAM and research associate professor of Cell and Developmental Biology. "We previously lacked tools that could resolve below 100 nanometers, and that's where a lot of fascinating biology happens-membrane dynamics, neurotransmitter activity, protein-protein interactions, and molecular architecture, to name a few." The system's compatibility with thicker samples and live imaging makes it exceptionally versatile, allowing Feinberg scientists to explore dynamic biological processes in real time and in greater depth. "The MIRAVA Polyscope will transform how we study brain circuits by revealing molecular interactions at unprecedented resolution, and as a shared resource it will open entirely new multidisciplinary research directions," said Peter Penzes, PhD, director of the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment and the Ruth and Evelyn Dunbar Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, who helped to secure the new equipment."
The MIRAVA Polyscope at the Center for Advanced Microscopy integrates 3D STED and 2D MINFLUX to deliver localization precision down to three nanometers. The system offers roughly a 30-fold improvement over most super-resolution methods and nearly 70-fold improvement over confocal microscopy. The instrument, developed by Nobel Laureate Stefan Hell, represents the first MIRAVA Polyscope in the United States and one of the first operational worldwide. Compatibility with thicker samples and live imaging enables real-time study of dynamic biological processes. As a shared resource, the system is expected to enable multidisciplinary research and advance molecular-level studies of brain circuits.
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