Recent advances in stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy for in vivo imaging

Juliet T. Gopinath; Emily A. Gibson; Brendan M. Heffernan; Stephanie A. Pierce; Catherine A. Saladrigas; Mark Siemens; Diego Restrepo

doi:10.1063/5.0302521

Recent advances in stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy for in vivo imaging

Juliet T. Gopinath
, Emily A. Gibson
, Brendan M. Heffernan
, Stephanie A. Pierce
, Catherine A. Saladrigas
, Mark Siemens
, Diego Restrepo

Physiology and Biophysics

University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Denver
University of Denver

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Recent advances in stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy have resulted in breakthroughs in biological imaging. Such advances include three-dimensional (3D) imaging, aberration correction to enhance resolution at depth in tissue, reduction in photobleaching, and label-free STED-inspired alternatives, enabling in vivo applications. In this perspective, we first summarize the basic principles of stimulated emission depletion microscopy and its major challenges. Next, we discuss techniques to reduce photobleaching, 3D imaging with STED, deep tissue imaging with STED, fiber-coupled STED, live animal imaging, and label-free imaging with super-resolution. Finally, we summarize and provide perspectives for future research.

Original language	English
Article number	030901
Journal	APL Photonics
Volume	11
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0302521
State	Published - Mar 1 2026

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10.1063/5.0302521

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title = "Recent advances in stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy for in vivo imaging",

abstract = "Recent advances in stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy have resulted in breakthroughs in biological imaging. Such advances include three-dimensional (3D) imaging, aberration correction to enhance resolution at depth in tissue, reduction in photobleaching, and label-free STED-inspired alternatives, enabling in vivo applications. In this perspective, we first summarize the basic principles of stimulated emission depletion microscopy and its major challenges. Next, we discuss techniques to reduce photobleaching, 3D imaging with STED, deep tissue imaging with STED, fiber-coupled STED, live animal imaging, and label-free imaging with super-resolution. Finally, we summarize and provide perspectives for future research.",

author = "Gopinath, \{Juliet T.\} and Gibson, \{Emily A.\} and Heffernan, \{Brendan M.\} and Pierce, \{Stephanie A.\} and Saladrigas, \{Catherine A.\} and Mark Siemens and Diego Restrepo",

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AU - Gibson, Emily A.

AU - Heffernan, Brendan M.

AU - Pierce, Stephanie A.

AU - Saladrigas, Catherine A.

AU - Siemens, Mark

AU - Restrepo, Diego

PY - 2026/3/1

Y1 - 2026/3/1

N2 - Recent advances in stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy have resulted in breakthroughs in biological imaging. Such advances include three-dimensional (3D) imaging, aberration correction to enhance resolution at depth in tissue, reduction in photobleaching, and label-free STED-inspired alternatives, enabling in vivo applications. In this perspective, we first summarize the basic principles of stimulated emission depletion microscopy and its major challenges. Next, we discuss techniques to reduce photobleaching, 3D imaging with STED, deep tissue imaging with STED, fiber-coupled STED, live animal imaging, and label-free imaging with super-resolution. Finally, we summarize and provide perspectives for future research.

AB - Recent advances in stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy have resulted in breakthroughs in biological imaging. Such advances include three-dimensional (3D) imaging, aberration correction to enhance resolution at depth in tissue, reduction in photobleaching, and label-free STED-inspired alternatives, enabling in vivo applications. In this perspective, we first summarize the basic principles of stimulated emission depletion microscopy and its major challenges. Next, we discuss techniques to reduce photobleaching, 3D imaging with STED, deep tissue imaging with STED, fiber-coupled STED, live animal imaging, and label-free imaging with super-resolution. Finally, we summarize and provide perspectives for future research.

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JO - APL Photonics

JF - APL Photonics

IS - 3

M1 - 030901

ER -

Recent advances in stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy for in vivo imaging

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