Sub-10nm nanoscopic imaging reveals sub-10nm cellular architectures

Phase intensity nanoscope (PINE) is a new super-resolution method to further improve the resolution of existing techniques. PINE utilizes an integrated phase-intensity device to modulate phase differences between electric field components to distinguish nanoprobes within a diffraction-limited region. This phase-intensity separation enables continuous imaging without photobleaching. PINE achieved sub-10nm resolution of cellular structures through precise localization of populations of randomly distributed nanorod probes. The distribution of localized nanorods forms patterns of underlying structures. By defining features from probe distribution patterns and minimizing the distances of each probe to its feature projection, PINE extracts sub-10nm structural information. PINE will pave the way for new sub-10nm long-term investigations of previously unexplored material, chemical and biological dynamics.