Marco Capitanio

Particle localization using local gradients and its application to nanometer stabilization of a microscope

Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Date: 12-11-2021

DOI: 10.1101/2021.11.11.468294

Abstract: Accurate localization of single particles plays an increasingly important role in a range of biological techniques, including single molecule tracking and localization-based superresolution microscopy. Such techniques require fast and accurate particle localization algorithms as well as nanometer-scale stability of the microscope. Here, we present a universal method for three-dimensional localization of single labeled and unlabeled particles based on local gradient calculation of microscopy images. The method outperforms current techniques in high noise conditions, and it is capable of nanometer accuracy localization of nano- and micro-particles with sub-ms calculation time. By localizing a fixed particle as fiducial mark and running a feedback loop, we demonstrate its applicability for active drift correction in sensitive nanomechanical measurements such as optical trapping and superresolution imaging. A multiplatform open software package comprising a set of tools for local gradient calculation in brightfield and fluorescence microscopy is shared to the scientific community.

Roadmap for optical tweezers

Publisher: IOP Publishing

Date: 04-2023

DOI: 10.1088/2515-7647/ACB57B

Abstract: Optical tweezers are tools made of light that enable contactless pushing, trapping, and manipulation of objects, ranging from atoms to space light sails. Since the pioneering work by Arthur Ashkin in the 1970s, optical tweezers have evolved into sophisticated instruments and have been employed in a broad range of applications in the life sciences, physics, and engineering. These include accurate force and torque measurement at the femtonewton level, microrheology of complex fluids, single micro- and nano-particle spectroscopy, single-cell analysis, and statistical-physics experiments. This roadmap provides insights into current investigations involving optical forces and optical tweezers from their theoretical foundations to designs and setups. It also offers perspectives for applications to a wide range of research fields, from biophysics to space exploration.

European Laboratory For Non-Linear Spectroscopy

Location: Italy

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Università Degli Studi Di Firenze

Location: Italy

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