---
title: "University of Tokyo Researchers Develop High-Speed Microscopy Technique"
url: https://newscentral.site/university-of-tokyo-researchers-develop-high-speed-microscopy/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Science"
published: 2026-10-30T10:00:11.000Z
updated: 2026-10-30T10:27:23.835Z
id: 332465f2-fb88-4ed3-b4f7-b740189d4b7a
source: "Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2026-10-high-microscopy-captures-3d-images.html"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/university-of-tokyo-researchers-develop-high-speed-microscopy/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# University of Tokyo Researchers Develop High-Speed Microscopy Technique

The University of Tokyo team has developed a high-speed microscopy technique that captures images nearly 400 times faster than previous methods.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have made significant strides in high-speed microscopy by developing a technique that captures images nearly 400 times faster than previous methods. This breakthrough enables scientists to create detailed "videos of living cells' dynamic processes.

The team's innovative approach involves shining mid-infrared light on samples, which triggers a photothermal signal. By capturing snapshots of the resulting temperature-change signatures from different molecules within the cell, researchers can gather valuable information about cellular activity.

This new technique has been shown to outperform previous high-speed microscopy methods by a significant margin. While earlier attempts at similar imaging captured only 0.05 images per second, the University of Tokyo team achieved an impressive rate of 19.2 images per second.

By capturing multiple snapshots from various angles, researchers can build three-dimensional videos" that provide a more comprehensive understanding of active biological processes within living cells. This technique holds great promise for advancing our knowledge of cellular behavior and its response to treatments.

The internal composition of a cell can be mapped by analyzing its unique frequency signatures.

These signatures are then used to illuminate the cell with visible light, allowing researchers to visualize its internal structure.

A key advantage of this technique is that it doesn't rely on dyes, which can be toxic to live cells and compromise experimental results.

By combining images from multiple angles, a three-dimensional picture of the cell's internal composition can be created.

The team behind this research has also developed a new method for capturing images at incredibly fast speeds.

The team has successfully utilized their innovative microscopy technique to capture 3D images of living cells at unprecedented speeds. This achievement allows for a more detailed examination of cellular processes that were previously difficult to observe.

Researchers can now use this method to track the movement and behavior of lipid droplets within cells, shedding light on how they regulate energy and store lipids. The MIP-ODT technique has been transformed from a static observation tool into a dynamic investigational instrument capable of quantifying rapid biological processes in three dimensions.

One potential application for this breakthrough lies in studying biomolecular condensates, which are membraneless structures within cells containing proteins and nucleic acids. Abnormal behavior of these condensates has been linked to neurodegenerative disorders, making their study crucial for developing new treatments.

The team aims to tackle fundamental biological questions that conventional techniques cannot answer. By providing quantitative information about the chemical composition of living cells, this label-free chemical imaging technique enables researchers to gain a deeper understanding of cellular dynamics and advance toward a more comprehensive measurement-driven comprehension of life.

This innovative technique combines mid-infrared photothermal optical diffraction tomography with high-speed microscopy to capture 3D images of living cells at rates nearly 400 times faster than traditional methods.

The resulting images provide a wealth of information about the chemical composition of individual cells, enabling researchers to gain a deeper understanding of cellular dynamics and ultimately advance toward developing more effective treatments for various diseases.

---
Source: [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-10-high-microscopy-captures-3d-images.html)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/university-of-tokyo-researchers-develop-high-speed-microscopy/