Super-resolution fluorescence imaging of molecular and radiation-induced cellular responses

The combined effort of optics, photonics, spectroscopy, and chemistry has given rise to a new family of fluorescence imaging techniques capable of overcoming the diffraction barrier, pushing spatial resolution down to tens of nanometers. Among these, single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) has evolved into a powerful quantitative tool for biological discovery. Current challenges lie at the intersection of technology and biology: developing methods for quantitative analysis, extending imaging depth, matching the biological samples requirements, and translating proof-of-principle demonstrations into genuine biomedical breakthroughs. In this talk, we will explore how quantitative super-resolution microscopy, and related methodological advances, may shed new light on cancer research and on the cellular response to innovative radiotherapeutic approaches.