An LED-based super resolution GPU implemented structured illumination microscope

Abstract

Fluorescence imaging of sub-cellular structures with sizes below the diffraction limit is vital in understanding cellular processes. Relying on exciting the sample with different illumination patterns and image processing for the elimination of background fluorescence, Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) provides imaging capability beyond diffraction limit using relatively simple optical setups. Here, we present a laser-free, DLP projector-based, and GPU-implemented SIM super resolution microscope. Sub-diffractive biological structures were imaged with a lateral resolution of similar to 150 nm. The microscopy system is LED-based and entirely home-built which enables customizable operation at a low cost.