Q&A: Expansion microscopy

Expansion microscopy (ExM) is a recently invented technology that uses swellable charged polymers, synthesized densely and with appropriate topology throughout a preserved biological specimen, to physically magnify the specimen 100-fold in volume, or more, in an isotropic fashion. ExM enables nanosc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gao, Ruixuan (Contributor), Asano, Shoh M (Contributor), Boyden, Edward (Contributor)
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Media Laboratory (Contributor), McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT (Contributor)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Biomed Central Ltd, 2017-12-13T14:43:31Z.
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Description
Summary:Expansion microscopy (ExM) is a recently invented technology that uses swellable charged polymers, synthesized densely and with appropriate topology throughout a preserved biological specimen, to physically magnify the specimen 100-fold in volume, or more, in an isotropic fashion. ExM enables nanoscale resolution imaging of preserved samples on inexpensive, fast, conventional microscopes. How does ExM work? How good is its performance? How do you get going on using it? In this Q & A, we provide the answers to these and other questions about this new and rapidly spreading toolbox.