Advances in cellular, subcellular, and nanoscale imaging in vitro and in vivo.

ABSTRACT

This review focuses on technical advances in fluorescence microscopy techniques including laser scanning techniques, fluorescence-resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), stimulated emission depletion (STED)-based super-resolution microscopy, scanning confocal endomicroscopes, thin-sheet laser imaging microscopy (TSLIM), and tomographic techniques such as early photon tomography (EPT) as well as on clinical laser-based endoscopic and microscopic techniques. We will also discuss the new developments in the field of fluorescent dyes and fluorescent genetic reporters that enable new possibilities in high-resolution and molecular imaging both in in vitro and in vivo. Small animal and tissue imaging benefit from the development of new fluorescent proteins, dyes, and sensing constructs that operate in the far red and near-infrared spectrum.