MIT researchers have developed a technique that allows them to expand tissue 20-fold before imaging it, making nanoscale imaging possible with conventional light microscopes. This method uses a gel that forms crosslinks spontaneously and exhibits strong mechanical properties, allowing for higher expansion rates than previous gels.
The technique works by breaking select bonds in the proteins that hold tissue together and adding water to expand the gel. Once expanded, target proteins in the tissue can be labeled and imaged. Using this approach, researchers have successfully imaged organelles inside cells, clusters of proteins, microtubules, mitochondria, and even nuclear pore complexes.
The implications are vast, with the potential for nearly any biology lab to perform nanoscale imaging at a low cost. The technique relies on standard chemicals and common equipment, making it accessible to labs around the world. Researchers envision using this method to study tumors, glycans on cell surfaces, and other biological processes in greater detail than ever before.
Source: https://interestingengineering.com/health/mits-tissue-expansion-makes-nanoscale