That means it is gentle on living cells. Advanced testing in biotech will benefit greatly from this new microscope's gentle approach.
New Microscope Reveals Tiny and Large Structures Inside Living Cells Without Dyes
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
What Makes This New Microscope Special?
Researchers at the University of Tokyo built a microscope that sees both big and small inside cells. Usually, microscopes watch either large structures or tiny particles. But this new tool measures forward-scattered and backward-scattered light. So, it can capture details from whole cells to nanoscale particles in one shot.
Its works without adding dyes or stains. That means it is gentle on living cells. Advanced testing in biotech will benefit greatly from this new microscope’s gentle approach.
A Bigger Range of Vision of New Microscope
The new microscope can detect signals over a range 14 times broader than normal ones. Regular microscopes face hard choices between sensitivity and the size details they see. In comparison, the new microscope breaks these barriers by measuring light traveling both forward and backward at once.
Why Label-Free Imaging Matters
The method needs no extra markers like dyes that may harm cells. Therefore, scientists can study cells as they move and change naturally over time. Vital research into cellular dynamics benefits from this imaging technique.
How Does It Work?
The Light Sensing Trick
This device captures two types of scattered light together—forward from bigger parts of the cell, backward from tiny ones. Using a new microscope technology, capturing these signals becomes more efficient.
New Microscope Catching Cell Changes in Real-Time
The scientists tested their microscope by watching cells as they died. New microscope technology allowed them to capture a single image showing small particles moving while also tracking bigger structures. By comparing both light signals carefully, they could estimate particle size and how strongly light bent through each piece inside the cell.
Also Read: Histology Techniques: Examining Tissue and Cell Structure.
Separating Mixed Signals Clearly
The biggest challenge was keeping signals separate without mix-ups or noise. Researchers succeeded by carefully processing data from one image to reveal micro and nano features side by side, thanks to new microscope advancements.
Looking Ahead: Studying Viruses and More
The team plans to study even smaller things like exosomes and viruses using this tool. This new microscope innovation will help track how these tiny structures behave inside cells as they die or respond to treatments.
Additionally, to stay updated with the latest developments in STEM research, visit ENTECH Online. Basically, this is our digital magazine for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Further, at ENTECH Online, you’ll find a wealth of information.
Reference:
Horie, K., Toda, K., Nakamura, T. et al. Bidirectional quantitative scattering microscopy. Nat Commun 16, 9712 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65570-w
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