Combining sample expansion and light-sheet microscopy for the volumetric imaging of virus-infected cells with superresolution

Abstract

Expansion microscopy is a sample preparation technique that enables the optical imaging of biological specimens at superresolution owing to their physical magnification, which is achieved through water-absorbing polymers. The technique uses readily available chemicals and does not require sophisticated equipment, thus offering superresolution to laboratories that are not microscopy-specialised. Here we combine sample expansion with light-sheet microscopy to generate high-contrast, high-resolution 3D reconstructions of whole virus-infected cells.