Leica Microsystems to Develop the Next STED Generation

Leica Microsystems has announced an agreement with the Max Planck Society and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) for the development of the next generation of super-resolution STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) microscopy.

Professor Stefan Hell, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, has taken his idea of STED microscopy a step further with the development of gated STED. This technology significantly improves the resolution and contrast previously attained with CW-STED (Continuous Wave Stimulated Emission Depletion) microscopy, whilst distinctly reducing laser intensity. This substantially extends the range of possible applications by enhancing photostability and live cell capability.

Gated STED technology will also considerably increase the number of questions that can be addressed with STED fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (STED-FCS). The main application of gated STED FCS will be the observation of molecule movements in the membrane of living cells.

The license agreement gives Leica Microsystems the license to develop and market gated STED technology. The new product of Leica Microsystems will be launched in the first half of the year 2012. Thanks to Leica Microsystems’ modular concept, the Leica TCS SP5 and Leica TCS STED CW confocal systems already on the market can be upgraded with gated STED.

“We’re delighted to be able to continue the provenly successful cooperation with the Max Planck Society, its technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation and the DKFZ with this trailblazing product development,” says Dr. Stefan Traeger, Vice President of Leica Microsystems’ Life Science Division. “The new gated STED microscope will enable us to further strengthen our technological lead in super-resolution microscopy especially for confocal systems. “

Sonia Nicholas, Clinical Diagnostics Editor