Special Section Guest Editorial: Thirty Years of Multiphoton Microscopy in the Biomedical Sciences.

JBO guest editors introduce the Special Section Celebrating Thirty Years of Multiphoton Microscopy in the Biomedical Sciences.

Multiphoton microscopy: a personal historical review, with some future predictions.

The historical development of multiphoton microscopy is described, starting with a review of two-photon absorption, and including two- and three-photon fluorescence microscopies, and second- and third-harmonic generation microscopies. The effects of pulse length on signal strength and breakdown are considered. Different contrast mechanisms, including use of nanoparticles, are discussed. Two new promising techniques that can be applied to multiphoton microscopy are described.

Multi-photon microscopy in cardiovascular research.

Multiphoton laser scanning microscopy has proven profound value for ex vivo 3D histology and in vivo imaging of motionless tissue. The development of triggering systems and fast imaging methods, combined with advanced preparation procedures solved the challenging task of intravital imaging of the fast pulsating heart and major arteries in animals and further increased the popularity of intravital multiphoton imaging in cardiovascular research. This review article will highlight the potential of multiphoton microscopy for the visualization and characterization of dynamical and structural processes involved in cardiac and vascular diseases, both in an ex vivo and an intravital animal setting. Examples will be given how multiphoton microscopy can be applied to imaging of atherosclerotic plaque development and progression at subcellular level as well as to intravital imaging of inflammatory processes in the heart. In addition to highlighting the potential of multiphoton microscopy in preclinical cardiovascular research, we will discuss how this tool and its applications may be clinically translated to support disease diagnosis and therapy in patients.

Technologies for imaging neural activity in large volumes.

Neural circuitry has evolved to form distributed networks that act dynamically across large volumes. Conventional microscopy collects data from individual planes and cannot sample circuitry across large volumes at the temporal resolution relevant to neural circuit function and behaviors. Here we review emerging technologies for rapid volume imaging of neural circuitry. We focus on two critical challenges: the inertia of optical systems, which limits image speed, and aberrations, which restrict the image volume. Optical sampling time must be long enough to ensure high-fidelity measurements, but optimized sampling strategies and point-spread function engineering can facilitate rapid volume imaging of neural activity within this constraint. We also discuss new computational strategies for processing and analyzing volume imaging data of increasing size and complexity. Together, optical and computational advances are providing a broader view of neural circuit dynamics and helping elucidate how brain regions work in concert to support behavior.

Healthy, wealthy and wise: the benefits of chemical research.

Chemistry is the great enabling subject that is central to progress in solving global problems. In today's world, these problems are as vital, as new energy sources, food, clean water and healthcare. David Philips presents some current research in these areas as well as his own work in the field of targeted photodynamic therapy of cancer.

[Frontiers in Live Bone Imaging Researches. Two-Photon Excitation Microscopy, principles and technologies].

The "two photon absorption" phenomenon had been predicted by the American Physicist, Maria Ghöppert-Mayer in 1931. Denk and Webb group had proved it in 1990 and the first product had been launched in the market in 1996. But ever since the product became available, the number of users are not increased. Moreover, the system had been too difficult to use and the system sometimes stay not working in labs. But recently, the new easier-to-use products are released and the ultra short pulse IR laser became stable. And its applications are extending from neuro-science to oncology or immunology fields. Due to these reasons, the shipment of multi-photon microscope in Japan in 2013 is approximately 40 units which is 3 times bigger than in 2010. In this paper, I would like to discuss the principles of two-photon microscopy and some of the new technologies for the higher signal capture efficiency.

Three photons are better than two.

Three-photon microscopy was suggested in the 1990s, but laser technology at the time was just not up to the challenge. Lauren Ware explores how recent technology advances are bringing three-photon microscopy back into focus.

Update of technologies for examining the stratum corneum at the molecular level.

Understanding the molecular organization of the stratum corneum is still an outstanding problem, despite being both fundamentally and clinically significant. There is a need to develop methodology that yields molecular-level resolution of the stratum corneum components in their native state, without introducing artefacts. We outline here the recent success of cryo-electron microscopy of vitreous sections (CEMOVIS) combined with electron microscopy simulation to elucidate the molecular organization of the stratum corneum in its near-native state. Furthermore, some emerging technologies for studying the physical properties and dynamic behaviour of native stratum corneum at the molecular level are briefly reviewed. These encompass multiphoton microscopy (MPM), polarization transfer solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (PTssNMR) and PeakForce tapping-mode atomic force microscopy combined with frequency-modulation Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). CEMOVIS combined with electron microscopy simulation allows for molecular structure determination in situ in native stratum corneum, while MPM allows probing of the stratum corneum local physicochemical properties such as fluorophore diffusion coefficients, water content and pH. PTssNMR allows for evaluation of the molecular mobility of stratum corneum keratin and lipid components, and PeakForce KPFM allows for analysis of the local nanomechanical properties of stratum corneum. These emerging techno-logies may contribute to a molecular-level understanding of stratum corneum structure and function in vivo.

Genetically encoded neural activity indicators.

Recording activity from identified populations of neurons is a central goal of neuroscience. Changes in membrane depolarization, particularly action potentials, are the most important features of neural physiology to extract, although ions, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, second messengers, and the activation state of specific proteins are also crucial. Modern fluorescence microscopy provides the basis for such activity mapping, through multi-photon imaging and other optical schemes. Probes remain the rate-limiting step for progress in this field: they should be bright and photostable, and ideally come in multiple colors. Only protein-based reagents permit chronic imaging from genetically specified cells. Here we review recent progress in the design, optimization and deployment of genetically encoded indicators for calcium ions (a proxy for action potentials), membrane potential, and neurotransmitters. We highlight seminal experiments, and present an outlook for future progress.

The first decade of using multiphoton microscopy for high-power kidney imaging.

In this review, we highlight the major scientific breakthroughs in kidney research achieved using multiphoton microscopy (MPM) and summarize the milestones in the technological development of kidney MPM during the past 10 years. Since more and more renal laboratories invest in MPM worldwide, we discuss future directions and provide practical, useful tips and examples for the application of this still-emerging optical sectioning technology. Advantages of using MPM in various kidney preparations that range from freshly dissected individual glomeruli or the whole kidney in vitro to MPM of the intact mouse and rat kidney in vivo are reviewed. Potential combinations of MPM with micromanipulation techniques including microperfusion and micropuncture are also included. However, we emphasize the most advanced and complex, quantitative in vivo imaging applications as the ultimate use of MPM since the true mandate of this technology is to look inside intact organs in live animals and humans.

Neuronal structural remodeling: is it all about access?

Recently, stable labeling techniques and use of two-photon microscopy for deep tissue imaging have enabled observation of neuronal structural dynamics within intact cerebral cortical circuits. These studies demonstrate that while neuronal structures are predominantly stable in the adult, a fraction of dendrites and axons are highly dynamic and responsive to experience, remodeling with precise cell type and laminar specificity. The qualitative and quantitative features of dendritic spine, dendritic branch, and axonal remodeling suggest that their purpose may be to provide access to and alter connectivity between different circuits in cortical space. The net number of synapses lost or gained during arbor remodeling may not be as important as the change to the circuit diagram resulting from the shuffling of synaptic partners.

Nanoparticles for optical molecular imaging of atherosclerosis.

Molecular imaging contributes to future personalized medicine dedicated to the treatment of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in industrialized countries. Endoscope-compatible optical imaging techniques would offer a stand-alone alternative and high spatial resolution validation technique to clinically accepted imaging techniques in the (intravascular) assessment of vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions, which are predisposed to initiate acute clinical events. Efficient optical visualization of molecular epitopes specific for vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions requires targeting of high-quality optical-contrast-enhancing particles. In this review, we provide an overview of both current optical nanoparticles and targeting ligands for optical molecular imaging of atherosclerotic lesions and speculate on their applicability in the clinical setting.

Fluorescence imaging: applications in drug delivery research.

In the context of drug delivery it is crucial to gain knowledge of nature of the cell's internal barriers, as well as one needs to be aware of requirements for the study of spatial and temporal interactions of drug delivery vehicles with the cell. Fluorescent imaging technology can be a great innovation in the field of science as far as study of live cell imaging and dynamic events are concerned. The technique has also demonstrated the ability to integrate the anatomic, functional, and statistical data. The current review article discusses various fluorescent techniques and also elaborates the scope of fluorescent imaging in the field of drug delivery.

Advances in renal (patho)physiology using multiphoton microscopy.

Multiphoton excitation fluorescence microscopy is a state-of-the-art confocal imaging technique ideal for deep optical sectioning of living tissues. It is capable of performing ultrasensitive, quantitative imaging of organ functions in health and disease with high spatial and temporal resolution which other imaging modalities cannot achieve. For more than a decade, multiphoton microscopy has been successfully used with various in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches to study many functions of different organs, including the kidney. This study focuses on recent advances in our knowledge of renal (patho)physiological processes made possible by the use of this imaging technology. Visualization of cellular variables like cytosolic calcium, pH, cell-to-cell communication and signal propagation, interstitial fluid flow in the juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA), real-time imaging of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF), and renin release mechanisms are reviewed. A brief summary is provided of kidney functions that can be measured by in vivo quantitative multiphoton imaging including glomerular filtration and permeability, concentration, dilution, and activity of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system using this minimally invasive approach. New visual data challenge a number of existing paradigms in renal (patho)physiology. Also, quantitative imaging of kidney function with multiphoton microscopy has tremendous potential to eventually provide novel non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic tools for future applications in clinical nephrology.