Building a total internal reflection microscope (TIRF) with active stabilization (feedback SMLM)

Abstract

The data quality of high-resolution imaging can be markedly improved with active stabilization, which is based on feedback loops within the microscope that maintain the sample in the same location throughout the experiment. The purpose is to provide a highly accurate focus lock, therefore eliminating drift and improving localization precision. Here, we describe a step-by-step protocol for building a total internal reflection microscope combined with the feedback loops necessary for sample and detection stabilization, which we routinely use in single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). The performance of the final microscope with feedback loops, called feedback SMLM, has previously been described. We demonstrate how to build a replica of our system and include a list of the necessary optical components, tips, and an alignment strategy.