Expansion Microscopy
Expansion Microscopy - Related Videos
08:53
Expansion Microscopy: High-Resolution Fluorescent Imaging with a Conventional Microscope
0 Views •
Cited by 1 •
2025
Here, we present a detailed protocol combining cryo-fixation and expansion microscopy methods (Cryo-ExM), allowing for high-resolution imaging with structural preservation adapted to various biological samples. Biological samples are frozen, embedded in a swellable polymer, denatured, expanded, and immunolabeled, enabling super-resolution imaging with standard light microscopes.
08:16
Visualizing Intracellular Sialylation with Click Chemistry and Expansion Microscopy
0 Views •
2025
Here, we propose a simple protocol combining metabolic oligosaccharide engineering, click chemistry, and expansion microscopy that allows bioimaging of intracellular sialylated N-glycoproteins with improved resolution using routine microscopy equipment.
10:31
Universal Molecular Retention with 11-Fold Expansion Microscopy
0 Views •
2023
Presented here is a new version of expansion microscopy (ExM), Magnify, that is modified for up to 11-fold expansion, conserving a comprehensive array of biomolecule classes, and is compatible with a broad range of tissue types. It enables the interrogation of the nanoscale configuration of biomolecules using conventional diffraction-limited microscopes.
09:42
Analysis of Thermal Expansion via Dilatometry
0 Views •
2023
Source: J. Jacob Chavez, Ryan T. Davis, and Taylor D. Sparks, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT Thermal expansion is extremely important when considering which materials will be used in systems that experience fluctuations in temperature. A high or low thermal expansion in a material may or may not be desirable, depending on the application. For instance, in a common liquid thermometer, a material with a high thermal expansion would be...
07:10
Super-resolution Imaging of Proteus mirabilis Biofilm by Expansion Microscopy
0 Views •
2025
This article presents a comprehensive protocol for PmbExM, an Expansion Microscopy technique designed specifically for Proteus mirabilis biofilms. PmbExM utilizes a stepwise enzymatic treatment of biofilm samples to achieve an isotropic, 4.3-fold expansion, enabling super-resolution analysis of the spatial organization of cellular and subcellular structures within these sessile microbial communities.
FAQs
Molecular anchors connect fluorescently labeled targets to the swellable polymer network before the specimen enters water. This linkage allows the labeled molecules to move with the expanding gel rather than becoming separated from the surrounding structure. Preserving those associations is essential for interpreting nanoscale protein localization, organelle organization, and cellular architecture after physical enlargement.
Chemical softening prepares the biological specimen to expand with the polymer network while maintaining its internal spatial relationships. Without this preparation step, tissue or cellular components could resist the gel’s enlargement. In cancer studies, controlled softening helps retain the organization needed to examine how proteins, organelles, and other structures are arranged within cells or tumor tissue.
A conventional light microscope observes the specimen at its original physical scale, so closely spaced structures may appear blurred together. Expansion Microscopy first enlarges the labeled specimen and then uses that microscope to inspect the increased separation. This physical magnification can reveal nanoscale organization without requiring the imaging system itself to provide all of the resolution.
Fluorescent labels identify the molecules or structures that researchers want to examine, while the polymer network preserves their positions during enlargement. The resulting image therefore links visible signals to specific biological targets rather than showing only general specimen shape. In cancer research, this supports analysis of protein localization, organelle arrangement, and interactions among components within cells and tumors.
The workflow begins by fluorescently labeling selected molecules and anchoring those labels within a swellable polymer network. The specimen is then chemically softened, and the gel is placed in water so it expands while preserving spatial relationships. After enlargement, researchers image the prepared sample with a conventional light microscope to examine structures that were previously difficult to separate visually.
Researchers may choose Expansion Microscopy when conventional imaging does not clearly distinguish closely positioned proteins, organelles, or cellular structures. The method is particularly relevant for studying cancer cell biology and tissue organization, where fine-scale localization and interactions can clarify disease mechanisms. It can also support investigations of how tumor structures or cellular features relate to treatment responses.
Enlarged specimens can provide detailed information about protein localization, organelle organization, cellular architecture, and interactions within tumors. These observations help researchers connect molecular positioning with the organization of cancer cells and tissues. By resolving features that conventional microscopy may blur together, the approach supports studies of disease mechanisms and the structural changes associated with potential treatment responses.