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| Total Internal Reflection |
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Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopes use a specially modified excitation beam path to create an evanescent wave that only penetrates approximately 100 nm into the sample immediately adjacent to the coverslip.
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| B16/F1 melanoma cells (mouse) – TIRF illumination, Blue: CFP-actin, Excitation 458 nm. Green: dsRed-Clathrin Light Chain A, Excitation 514 nm. Plan-Fluar 100x/1.45 oil; Image: Oberbanscheidt, van den Boom, Bähler, Institute of General Zoology and Genetics, University of Münster, Germany. |
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This technique does have the restriction that only this single surface optical section can be imaged, and so any information from deeper layers in the sample needs to be determined using another technique. TIRF however is extremely sensitive and offers the highest background discrimination of any technique, making it ideal for studies of ultrafast dynamics.
Current product:
Laser TIRF 3 | |
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