Super-resolution fluorescence imaging of structure property of biomimetic hydrogels

Abstract

Biomimetic hydrogels have a wide variety of applications in the biomedical field. Functional biomimetic hydrogels which are based on polyisocyanopeptides have the same structure property as actin microfilaments and intermediate filaments of cytoskeleton. ALEXA647 dyes are labeled onto polymer chains of hydrogels, and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy is used to image the hydrogels. Super-resolution fluorescence images for hydrogels are achieved by super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI) and deconvolution. The SOFI imaging also features significant background reduction and thus contrast enhancement. Network structures of hydrogels and bundles of polymer chains are visualized by SOFI imaging. It is found that bundle dimensions are constant irrespective of polymer concentration and network structures have smaller pore sizes at higher concentration. The property of biomimetic hydrogels in aqueous solution is also observed.