Confocal microscopy is an excellent high resolution method to image fluorescently labeled cells. However, the use of confocal microscopy to monitor physiological events, such as membrane potential changes, in living cells is hampered by photobleaching and phototoxicity. To reduce the collateral damage from excitation of fluorescent probes outside the optical slice, Webb and co-workers introduced the use of two-photon excited (TPE) fluorescence in laser scanning microscopy.1 Two-photon absorption depends on the square of the incident light intensity; this has the effect of confining excitation to the plane of focus where the photon flux density is greatest. The wavelength of the exciting light is in the near infrared facilitating penetration of thick tissues. Due to these significant advantages this methodology is rapidly gaining popularity as a tool for live cell and tissue imaging.
To further exploit non-linear optical processes in laser scanning microscopy, we have developed surface second harmonic generation (SHG) as a powerful new imaging modality.