• Advanced Photonics
  • Vol. 7, Issue 3, 036003 (2025)
Pengcheng Fu1、†, Bo Chen1, Yongqing Zhang1, Liangyi Chen2, Hyeon Jeong Lee3、4、*, and Delong Zhang1、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1Zhejiang University, School of Physics, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Micro-nano Quantum Chips and Quantum Control, Hangzhou, China
  • 2Peking University, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, Beijing, China
  • 3Zhejiang University, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China
  • 4Zhejiang University, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science & Brain-Machine Integration, Hangzhou, China
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    DOI: 10.1117/1.AP.7.3.036003 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Pengcheng Fu, Bo Chen, Yongqing Zhang, Liangyi Chen, Hyeon Jeong Lee, Delong Zhang, "Breaking the diffraction limit in molecular imaging by structured illumination mid-infrared photothermal microscopy," Adv. Photon. 7, 036003 (2025) Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Super-resolution microscopy techniques have revolutionized biological imaging by breaking the optical diffraction limit, yet most methods rely on fluorescent labels that provide limited chemical information. Although vibrational imaging based on Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy offers intrinsic molecular contrast, achieving both high spatial resolution and high chemical specificity remains challenging due to weak signal levels. We demonstrate structured illumination mid-infrared photothermal microscopy (SIMIP) as an emerging imaging platform that provides chemical bond selectivity and high-speed, widefield detection beyond the diffraction limit. By modulating fluorescence quantum yield through vibrational infrared absorption, SIMIP enables both nanoscale spatial resolution and high-fidelity IR spectral acquisition. The synergy of enhanced resolution and chemical specificity positions SIMIP as a versatile tool for studying complex biological systems and advanced materials, offering new opportunities across biomedicine and materials science.
    Supplementary Materials
    Pengcheng Fu, Bo Chen, Yongqing Zhang, Liangyi Chen, Hyeon Jeong Lee, Delong Zhang, "Breaking the diffraction limit in molecular imaging by structured illumination mid-infrared photothermal microscopy," Adv. Photon. 7, 036003 (2025)
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