Imaging the ultrastructures and dynamics of live erythrocyte membranes at the single-molecule level with a far-red probe on a microfluidic platform

Both the ultrastructures and dynamics of living erythrocyte membranes provide critical criteria for clinical diagnostics. However, it is challenging to simultaneously visualize these features at the single-molecule level due to the rigid photophysical requirements of different single-molecule imaging techniques. Herein, we rationally developed a far-red boron dipyrromethene membrane (BDP-Mem) probe that not only retained consistent and intensive single-molecule emission but also possessed the capability to photoswitch on cellular membranes. We also constructed a microfluidic platform for the noninvasive trapping and long-term imaging of nonadherent erythrocytes. By combining these advantageous technologies, super-resolution reconstruction and single-molecule tracking of living human RBC membranes were achieved at the molecular scale in a high-throughput fashion. Our integrated paradigm defines a quantitative approach for analyzing living RBC membranes under physiological and pathological conditions, improving imaging precisions and revealing new perspectives for future disease diagnostic approaches.