A three-dimensional imaging method utilizes substrates that are birefringent — they have different refractive indices along different crystal axes — to enhance the precision and depth of single-particle tracking, eliminating the need for high-tech hardware. Developed by KAUST, the user-friendly method is compatible with a standard fluorescence microscope and makes molecular motion in complex environments easier to visualize — a potential research tool for general users.

Three-dimensional single-particle tracking enables the direct characterization of molecular motion in complex environments. In life science, it provides a crucial understanding of the motion and associated behavior of biological molecules and complexes in cells. This includes the cellular uptake of viruses and DNA hybridization.

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