The team has created a better mid-infrared microscope that allows them to see the internal structures of living bacteria at the nanometer level. Mid-infrared microscopy usually has low resolution, but this new development has improved the resolution to 120 nanometers, which is thirty times better than typical mid-infrared microscopes. This clearer view at a smaller scale can help research in various fields, including infectious diseases, and could lead to more precise mid-infrared-based imaging techniques.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have created a better mid-infrared microscope that allows them to observe the inner structures of living bacteria at the nanometer level. Mid-infrared microscopy usually has low resolution, but this new development has achieved images at 120 nanometers, which is a thirtyfold improvement over typical mid-infrared microscopes. This enhanced ability to view samples at a smaller scale can be beneficial for various areas of research, such as infectious diseases.they require the specimen to be placed in a vacuum, which can alter the structure of the sample. Infrared microscopes, on the other hand, do not require any labels or vacuum conditions. This makes them a promising tool for imaging biological samples without the potential drawbacks of other microscopy methods. The development of mid-infrared-based imaging has the potential to provide even more accurate and detailed images of the microscopic world in the future.Samples cannot be studied in their live state because they must be placed in a vacuum. In comparison, mid-infrared microscopy is able to provide information about the chemical and structural properties of live cells without causing damage or requiring coloring. This technique has been limited in biological research due to its lower resolution capability in comparison to super-resolution fluorescent microscopy, which can narrow down images to tens of nanometers. Mid-infrared microscopy, on the other hand, can typically only achieve around 3 microns. However, a new breakthrough in research has changed this.Researchers at the University of Tokyo have made a breakthrough in mid-infrared microscopy, achieving a spatial resolution of 120 nanometers, which is approximately 30 times better than traditional methods. Professor Takuro Ideguchi from the Institute for Photon Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo explained that they utilized a technique called “synthetic aperture,” which involves combining multiple images taken from different angles to create a clearer picture. This advancement in microscopy has the potential to significantly impact various fields of research and technology.The researchers encountered a problem when trying to obtain detailed images of bacteria under mid-infrared light, as the silicon material used to hold the sample absorbed some of this light. To address this issue, they placed the bacteria samples (including E. coli and Rhodococcus jostii RHA1) on a silicon plate that reflected visible light and allowed infrared light to pass through. This adjustment enabled the researchers to use a single lens to better illuminate the bacteria with mid-infrared light, resulting in clearer and more detailed images of the bacteria’s internal structures. Ideguch, one of the researchers, expressed surprise at the level of detail that they were able to observe and highlighted the potential for using the high spatial resolution microscope to study global issues such as antimicrobial resistance.We are confident that there are several ways to enhance the technique. By using an improved lens and a shorter wavelength of visible light, we could potentially achieve a spatial resolution of less than 100 nanometers. This enhanced clarity would allow us to examine a variety of cell samples and address both fundamental and practical biomedical challenges.”