近日，法国巴黎文理研究大学的Ignacio Izeddin及其研究小组取得一项新进展。经过不懈努力，他们成功研制出基于事件的快速、密集单分子定位显微镜视觉传感器。相关研究成果已于2023年10月30日在国际知名学术期刊《自然—光子学》上发表。
该研究团队开创了一种基于事件传感器的单分子定位显微镜（SMLM）数据采集和处理全新方法，该方法显著提升了SMLM的性能和效率。与传统的基于帧的传感器不同，这种新型传感器对光强的变化进行响应，而非在每帧的曝光时间内对光子进行积分。每个像素独立运作，仅在检测到光强变化时才会返回信号。相较于传统的电子倍增电荷耦合器件或科学互补金属氧化物半导体相机的视频采集，这种基于事件的传感器为闪烁分子位置提供了更高的时间分辨率和吞吐量。
研究人员通过生物样品展示了基于事件的SMLM超分辨率成像，其空间分辨率与电子倍增电荷耦合器件或科学互补金属氧化物半导体相机相当，同时它仅记录闪烁分子的开关状态。此外，研究人员还利用基于事件的SMLM执行了极其密集的单分子成像，这在基于帧的相机中是极为困难的。
据悉，单分子定位显微镜（SMLM）具备在单分子水平上揭示细胞结构和过程的关键能力，为人们提供了深入的见解。然而，SMLM在实际应用中常常受到时间分辨率有限和固定帧速率的限制。
附：英文原文
Title: Event-based vision sensor for fast and dense single-molecule localization microscopy
Author: Cabriel, Clment, Monfort, Tual, Specht, Christian G., Izeddin, Ignacio
Issue&Volume: 2023-10-30
Abstract: Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) enables crucial insights into cellular structures and processes to be revealed at the single-molecule level. However, SMLM is often hampered by limited temporal resolution and the fixed frame rate of the acquisition. Here we present a new approach to SMLM data acquisition and processing based on an affordable event-based sensor. This type of sensor reacts to changes in light intensity, rather than integrating photons during the exposure time of each frame. Each pixel works independently and returns a signal only when an intensity change is detected. Compared with video acquisition using traditional electron-multiplying charge-coupled device or scientific complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor cameras, the event-based sensor provides higher temporal resolution and throughput on the positions of blinking molecules. We demonstrate event-based SMLM super-resolution imaging on biological samples with spatial resolution on a par with the performance of electron-multiplying charge-coupled device or scientific complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor cameras, while registering only the on and off switching of blinking molecules. We use event-based SMLM to perform very dense single-molecule imaging, where frame-based cameras experience major limitations.
DOI: 10.1038/s41566-023-01308-8
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-023-01308-8