We present a novel widefield super-resolution imaging technique based on Fluorescence Enhanced Photothermal IR (FE-PTIR) spectroscopy. The key enabling innovation is the realization that fluorescence emission, is on average, up to 100x more sensitive to temperature changes to than current O-PTIR contrast mechanisms of expansion and refractive index changes up on sample heating my wavelength specific absorption of the pump IR beam. Improved sensitivity allows the defocusing of the IR beam to cover an area of up to 70x70um, with measurement via 2D high sensitivity fluorescence camera, providing for true, rapid widefield chemical imaging with <500nm spatial resolution . FE-PTIR thus allows the IR spectroscopic analysis of specifically labeled regions of biological cells and tissue, for example to study conformational stages of a specifically labeled class of target proteins. FE-PTIR can enable the study protein misfolding associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Various examples from these applications will be provided.
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