Imaging in focusLight sheet microscopes: Novel imaging toolbox for visualizing life's processes

- Light sheet microscopy was first developed in 1902.
- It has been used in biological imaging since in 2003.
- Light sheet microscopes exist in many flavors; each are tailored to address a particular biological challenge (e.g. sample size, spatial resolution, imaging depth).
- Light sheet microscopy provides improved signal-to-noise, lower photobleaching, and lower phototoxicity than conventional widefield, confocal or two-photon techniques.

Capturing dynamic processes in live samples is a nontrivial task in biological imaging. Although fluorescence provides high specificity and contrast compared to other light microscopy techniques, the photophysical principles of this method can have a harmful effect on the sample. Current advances in light sheet microscopy have created a novel imaging toolbox that allows for rapid acquisition of high-resolution fluorescent images with minimal perturbation of the processes of interest. Each unique design has its own advantages and limitations. In this review, we describe several cutting edge light sheet microscopes and their optimal applications.