Nanotechnology provides several advancements for cellular imaging:
Nanoparticles: These can be engineered to target specific cellular components, providing high-contrast images and enabling the visualization of structures that were previously difficult to see. Quantum Dots: These are semiconductor nanoparticles that fluoresce brightly and are used as markers in fluorescence imaging, offering greater stability and brightness than traditional dyes. Super-Resolution Microscopy: Techniques such as STED, PALM, and STORM break the diffraction limit of light, allowing imaging at the nanometer scale. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM): This technique provides three-dimensional imaging and can measure mechanical properties of cells at the nanoscale.
