Characterizing an Ionic Liquid as a Biological Fixative in Fluorescence Microscopy

Abstract

In recent years, light microscopy technology has pushed the envelope to achieve higher temporal, spatial, and spectral resolution 1-3. These advance techniques have enabled fluorescence microscopy to provide qualitative and quantitative readouts of cellular and molecular phenotypes in fixed and live samples and has transformed cell and molecular data 4, 5. However, efforts to achieve higher resolution in optical microscopy and realize its full potential are hampered by the obstacle presented by the diffraction limit of light. To overcome this challenge, Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM) is being used to combine fluorescence and electron microscopy (EM).