The ONI Nanoimager is an advanced super-resolution fluorescence microscopy platform designed for quantitative, nanoscale imaging of fixed and live biological samples. It enables localization-based super-resolution techniques, real-time single-molecule analysis, and high-precision spatial measurements that extend beyond the diffraction limit of conventional light microscopy. Integration of this system into UAB’s research infrastructure expands institutional capability for detailed molecular and subcellular analysis across diverse disease-focused research programs.
Core Functional Capabilities
- Super-resolution imaging using localization-based methods, including multicolor dSTORM and DNA-PAINT, achieving nanoscale spatial resolution.
- Dual-color TIRF microscopy for high-contrast imaging of membrane-proximal events with precise control of excitation depth.
- Single-molecule localization and tracking with real-time acquisition, enabling quantitative analysis of molecular dynamics, diffusion, and interactions.
- Live-cell imaging under controlled environmental conditions, supporting studies of dynamic cellular processes.
- Quantitative spatial analysis of protein organization, clustering, and co-localization at the nanoscale.
- High-throughput data acquisition optimized for reproducible, statistically robust measurements across large datasets.
Research Applications Supported
- Mapping spatial organization and interactions of signaling proteins within cells.
- Spatial proteomics and nanometer-scale mapping of molecular complexes.
- Investigation of nanoscale mechanisms in cell signaling, membrane biology, and nanomedicine.
- Disease-oriented studies requiring precise visualization of molecular organization and dynamics.
Workflow Integration and Data Compatibility
- Designed to align with established high-resolution imaging workflows within the HRIF.
- Compatible with commonly used single-molecule and super-resolution data analysis pipelines.
- Facilitates research continuity by supporting existing experimental designs and analytical approaches used by UAB investigators.
Overall, the ONI Nanoimager provides a proprietary integration of nanoscale resolution, dual-color TIRF microscopy, and quantitative single-molecule analysis, directly enabling UAB researchers to perform precise, high-impact investigations at the molecular scale.
For more information about gaining access to the Nanoimager, please contact Shawn Williams at 205-447-0451 or email at
You can access ONI’s resource library for more information about the instrument and the CODI analysis software here: https://oni.bio/resources/resource-library/
