Applying adaptive optics and quantum dots to stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy

Stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) constructs groundbreaking images of biological structures in a completely native environment. This allows previously diffraction limited systems to image structures to 20 nm of resolution. Theoretically the resolution gain is only limited by the number of photons a fluorophore emits. The dyes and proteins typically used as fluorophores photobleach rapidly with small average photon counts. Quantum dots, however, have a much higher brightness than these conventional markers but lack a controllable blinking mechanism. A new technique that causes quantum dots to blink, called blueing, will be examined for use with STORM. In a unique approach to capture 3D images, a deformable mirror is used to provide a controlled amount of astigmatism to the image plane.