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Mapping deformations and increasing quantitative accuracy in expansion microscopy

We introduce GelMap, a flexible workflow for reporting deformations and anisotropy in expansion microscopy. By intrinsically calibrating the expansion hydrogel using a fluorescent grid that scales with expansion and deforms with anisotropy, GelMap enables the reliable quantification of expansion factors and correction of deformations.

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Fig. 1: Reporting and correcting deformations using GelMap.

References

  1. Chen, F., Tillberg, P. W. & Boyden, E. S. Expansion microscopy. Science 347, 543–548 (2015). This landmark paper introduces ExM and provides the foundation for subsequent work.

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  2. Truckenbrodt, S. Expansion microscopy: super­resolution imaging with hydrogels. Anal. Chem. 95, 3–32 (2023). This review presents an extensive overview of the chemistry of ExM, highlighting recent advances and challenges.

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This is a summary of: Damstra, H. G. J. et al. GelMap: intrinsic calibration and deformation mapping for expansion microscopy. Nat. Methods https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-023-02001-y (2023).

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Mapping deformations and increasing quantitative accuracy in expansion microscopy. Nat Methods 20, 1460–1461 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-023-02015-6

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