Objective lens provides Z-resolution for TIRF microscopy

With a world record-breaking numerical aperture (NA) of 1.7, the objective achieves the highest Z-resolution ever recorded for a Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscope.

The benefits for research using TIRF microscopy include extremely thin penetration depth and high signal-to-noise ratio, making the lens ideal for single molecule dynamic studies and super resolution applications.

Due to its high NA, the NA 1.7 APON100×HOTIRF objective from Olympus is ideal for a range of applications requiring super-high Z-resolution and sensitive fluorescent detection.

This is achieved through optical design and the utilisation of a special sapphire glass, used in combination with a low auto-fluorescence (reduced noise) immersion oil that has a very high refraction index.

The lens improves single molecule dynamic studies due to the enhanced signal-to-noise ratio offered when detecting surface-bound molecules, with minimal background emission from molecules in the surrounding solution.

The new objective is also designed to provide the optical performance required for super resolution applications and TIRF co-localisation studies, with high spatial resolution generated by thin optical slices at the surface of the specimen.

With a magnification of x 100, the new TIRF objective is also well suited for in vitro TIRF microscopy, for example when studying  cytoskeletal dynamics or other cellular components in solution.