Ex-STORM: Expansion Single Molecule Super-resolution Microscopy

Abstract

Abstract We present critical improvements to recently invented Expansion Microscopy (ExM), which resolve the incompatibility between ExM and single molecule super-resolution microscopy STORM. Specifically, the improved ExM circumvents the massive, 50-100%, bleaching of fluorophores during sample preparations, and preserve the efficiency of enzymatic oxygen scavenging systems in expanded samples. These improvements open up new avenues for Ex-STORM - expanding a sample mechanically, and then visualizing the sample with STORM.