Three-dimensional particle tracking via bifocal imaging

Nano Lett. 2007 Jul;7(7):2043-5. doi: 10.1021/nl0709120. Epub 2007 Jun 21.

Abstract

We introduce a bifocal imaging method that enables three-dimensional (3D) tracking of both fluorescent and nonfluorescent particles. We accomplish this by simultaneously imaging a focused plane, for in-plane position (x,y), and a defocused plane, for out-of-plane position (z), of a molecule using a single CCD camera. We applied our method to several systems including in vivo melanosome tracking and phagocytosed fluorescent bead tracking. We have achieved 2-5 nm accuracy with a 2-50 ms time resolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
  • Microspheres