%0 Generic
%A Rossberger, Sabrina
%D 2014
%F heidok:17079
%R 10.11588/heidok.00017079
%T A novel combined Structured Illumination and Single Molecule  Localization Microscope and its application to Retinal Structures
%U https://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/volltextserver/17079/
%X Fluorescence microscopy methods have become an major imaging tool in biomedical lifescience. However, each method only addresses specific questions due to intrinsic limitations. A new, fully automated and user-friendly 'Combo'-microscope setup has been developed, which combines the two advanced high-resolution methods Structured Illumination and Localization Microscopy into one imaging system. As both methods complement one another, the 'Combo'-microscope will greatly extend the range of application in biomedical research. Moreover, artifacts, introduced in the course of the imaging and/or reconstruction processes, can be revealed and potential mis-interpretation of super-resolution data is limited.  This work was motivated by the age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease, which is the leading cause of blindness in the Western world. Autofluorescent particles within age-related deposits (drusen) beneath the retinal pigment epithelium are studied on advanced resolution level. Furthermore, the newly built microscope is used for a dual-mode dual-color three-dimensional visualization of the axon initial segment, a crucial region for signal transduction in vision, of retinal ganglion cells. Finally, an in vitro study comparing the pharmaceuticals currently used for AMD-treatment is outlined.