Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscope

"Single Molecule Localization Microscopy"

Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (STORM) is a super-resolution fluorescence imaging technique that overcomes the diffraction limit of light by localizing individual fluorophores with nanometer precision, enabling visualization of cellular structures at the molecular scale.

  • Fully automated inverted microscope Nikon Eclipse Ti2-E mounted with 20x, 100x Oil (TIRF) and 100x Silicone objective lenses.
  • Ultra-high-resolution STORM (Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy) system with Chroma TIRF cube mounted (405/488/561/640)
  • Laser combiner for the STORM system, consisting of 4 laser sources with wavelengths 405/488/561/640 nm.
  • Andor iXon Ultra 897 - BV camera for the STORM system.
  • Motorized TIRF system on X and Y axes.
  • Cairn Twincam image splitter for the placement of two cameras, with 2 Photometrics Prime 95B cameras for dual TIRF capability, with:
    • Dichroic: 568nm.
    • Emitters: 535/70 and 575Longpass.
  • Piezoelectric focusing system Nano-Z with a 100 µm range by Mad City Labs.
  • CoolED PE4000 for widefiled imaging with:
    • Quadruple DAPI/FITC/TRITC/Cy5 with:
      • Exciters: 378/52, 474/27, 554/23, 635/18.
      • Emitters: 432/36, 515/30, 595/31, 730/139
      • Dichroic: 409/493/573/652
    • Triple CFP/YFP/mCherry with:
      • Exciters: 438/24, 509/22, 578/21
      • Emitters: 475/22, 543/22, 702/197
      • Dichroic: 459/526/596
  • High-end computer HP Z8 for STORM, with HP S7 Pro 738pu WQHD+ monitor.
  • Acquisition software: NIS-Elements V2.3.

The DeepSIM microscope is funded by:

  • "Translation Discovery hub: Open-Access research Infrastructure for translational research for the discovery and development of targeted therapeutic molecules"
  • Project: "Democritus University of Thrace - University of Excellence" / SUB2: UNIVERSITIES OF EXCELLENCE - UoEs
  • Funding: 1,000,000 Euros
  • Scientific co-ordinator: Professor Michalis Koukourakis (Department of Medicine, DUTH)

The use of the STORM microscope is subject to the General Open Access Regulation of the Democritus University of Thrace.