High-speed super resolution for live cell imaging N-SIM S Super Resolution Microscope

March 19, 2018

Nikon Corporation (Kazuo Ushida, President, Tokyo) is pleased to announce the release of the new N-SIM S Super Resolution Microscope, which enables super-solution imaging of live cells at ten-times the speed of conventional SIM. N-SIM S is powered at its core by the ECLIPSE Ti2-E Inverted Research Microscope, taking advantage of its advanced optics, superior stability and intelligent features.
N-SIM S will be exhibited at the "Focus On Microscopy" international conference for cutting-edge optical microscope technologies in Singapore from March 25 to March 28, 2018.

Product information

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Product Name	N-SIM S Super Resolution Microscope
Availability	From April 1, 2018 (scheduled)

Product Concept

The limit of standard optical microscope resolution is approximated at 200 nm. In 2010, Nikon released the N-SIM Super Resolution Microscope, which achieved twice the resolution of conventional optical microscopes. N-SIM has contributed in advancing our understanding of macro-molecular structures and their interactions, enabling insights previously unattainable due to the resolution limit of conventional light microscopes.

Nikon's new N-SIM S Super Resolution Microscope provides the next level of super-resolution imaging by providing high-speed image acquisition, enabling imaging of live cells and dynamic events. N-SIM S combines high-speed acquisition and nanoscale imaging capabilities whilst maintaining a user-friendly imaging workflow, providing a true innovation in live-cell imaging technology.

Main Features

1. High-speed imaging at approximately 0.067 seconds/frame

Nikon has developed a novel high-speed, structured illumination system to enable imaging at rates of 15 fps (ten times faster than conventional models (1.6 fps)), or ~0.067 seconds acquisition time per super-resolution image. This high-speed imaging capability enables super-resolution observation of dynamic events in live cells.

2. Streamlined workflow and user interface

N-SIM S provides streamlined workflows and improved operating efficiency by automatically switching between observation methods and optimizing acquisition parameters, so users can focus on their research.

3. Ultra-stable platform for live-cell super-resolution imaging

N-SIM S takes advantage of the ultra-stable ECLIPSE Ti2-E Inverted Research Microscope platform designed for super-resolution imaging. Combining stability designed for super-resolution imaging and Nikon's fourth generation auto-focusing system, the Perfect Focus System (PFS), N-SIM S represents the next step in live-cell imaging.

4. Flexible system configuration and expandability

N-SIM S can be easily combined with various imaging modalities including N-STORM Super Resolution which provides single molecule level resolution, confocal (e.g. A1⁺ Confocal series), and standard wide-field observation.
N-SIM S is compatible with a wide range of objectives providing a robust system for imaging a wide variety of specimens. N-SIM S is powered by NIS-Elements, Nikon's universal image acquisition and analysis software with advanced tools for designing custom acquisition and analysis flows, as well as powerful data visualization and presentation tools.

Super-resolution images acquired using the N-SIM S

Left: Lamellipodia of NG108 cell^*1
Right: LLC-PK1^*2

*1Green: Actin labeled with Alexa488
Red: Microtubules labeled with TRITC-phalloidin
Imaging mode: 3D-SIM
Objective lens: CFI Plan Apo λ40x / 0.95
Photo courtesy of: Dr. Shizuha Ishiyama and Dr. Kaoru Katoh, The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
*2Blue: Nucleus labeled with DAPI
Green: Microtubules labeled with Alexa488
Red: Actin labeled with TRITC-phalloidin
Imaging mode: 3D-SIM
Objective lens: CFI SR HP Apo TIRF 100xH /1.49
Photo courtesy of: Dr. Kaoru Katoh, The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)