Read about our recent collaborative work at the Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique here. In this work we demonstrated that pulse-shaping techniques could be used to image GFP-labelled drosophila embryos with high selectivity for GFP and suppression of autofluorescence. The images below show the electric field applied by a Dazzler pulse-shaper amd the corresponding fluorescence images of the drosophila embryo. By applying the appropriate pulse-shape we effectively tune the second harmonic spectrum of the exciting light to preferentially excite GFP or autofluorescent species.Using the images obtained with the different pulse-shapes (see below), we can separate GFP and autofluorescent signals (shown on the left).

Pulse-shaping Fluorescence Microscopy

Applied electric field

Corresponding image