Bessel-droplet foci enable high-resolution and high-contrast volumetric imaging of synapses and circulation in the brain in vivo

Abstract

Bessel beam has long been utilized in physics for its ability to maintain lateral confinement during propagation. When used for two-photon fluorescence microscopy, Bessel foci have enabled high-speed volumetric imaging of the brain. At high numeric aperture (NA), however, the substantial energy in the side rings of Bessel foci reduces image contrast. Therefore, a compromise between resolution and contrast has to be made, limiting Bessel foci in microscopy to low NA. Here, we describe a method of generating axially extended Bessel-droplet foci with much suppressed side rings. Shaping the excitation wavefront with novel phase patterns, we generated Bessel-droplet foci of variable NAs at high power throughput and scanned them interferometrically along the axial direction for continuous volume imaging. More resistant to optical aberrations than Bessel foci, Bessel-droplet foci enabled high-resolution and high-contrast volumetric imaging of synaptic anatomy and function as well as lymphatic circulation in the mouse brain in vivo.