Studying the ultra-fine structure and functions of mitochondria at a nanoscale level has garnered tremendous attention from biologists. Mitochondria perform many more functions than merely generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and their functions can vary in different eukaryotic cells. In place of diffractionlimited conventional imaging techniques, advanced nanoscopic technologies have been devised in the past decades to explore the unknown aspects of mitochondrial dynamics and complex structures with a sub-diffraction resolution. The success of these super-resolution microscopy and nanoscopy techniques is complemented by the advancements in designing smart fluorescent probes that target mitochondria. Therefore, this review includes the comprehensive aspects of the recent progress in developing fluorogenic systems for nanoscopic imaging of mitochondria. The review also critically assesses the associated benefits and limitations of such fluorophores when they are employed in practical experiments. Future scope and challenges in developing suitable fluorophores for several nanoscopic techniques are also judiciously evaluated.
Various strategies for TSQ-induced fluorophore stabilization and their application in sm-FRET as well as in super-resolution imaging microscopy are thoroughly reviewed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.