Single particle tracking (SPT) is a robust technique to monitor single-molecule behaviors in living cells directly. By this approach, we can uncover the potential biological significance of particle dynamics by statistically characterizing individual molecular behaviors. SPT provides valuable information at the single-molecule level, that could be obscured by simple averaging that is inherent to conventional ensemble measurements. Here, we give a brief introduction to SPT including the commonly used optical implementations, fluorescence labeling strategies, and data analysis methods. We then focus on how SPT has been harnessed to decipher myocardial function. In this context, SPT has provided novel insight into the lateral diffusion of signal receptors and ion channels, the dynamic organization of cardiac nanodomains, subunit composition and stoichiometry of cardiac ion channels, myosin movement along actin filaments, the kinetic features of transcription factors involved in cardiac remodeling, and the intercellular communication by nanotubes. Finally, we speculate on the prospects and challenges of applying SPT to future questions regarding cellular cardiac physiology using SPT.

单粒子跟踪 (SPT) 是一种强大的技术，可直接监测活细胞中的单分子行为。通过这种方法，我们可以通过对个体分子行为的统计表征来揭示粒子动力学的潜在生物学意义。SPT 在单分子水平上提供有价值的信息，这些信息可能会被传统集合测量所固有的简单平均所掩盖。在这里，我们简要介绍了 SPT，包括常用的光学实现、荧光标记策略和数据分析方法。然后我们关注如何利用 SPT 来破译心肌功能。在这种情况下，SPT 为信号受体和离子通道的横向扩散、心脏纳米域的动态组织、心脏离子通道的亚基组成和化学计量、肌球蛋白沿肌动蛋白丝的运动、参与心脏重塑的转录因子的动力学特征以及纳米管的细胞间通讯。最后，我们推测使用 SPT 将 SPT 应用于有关细胞心脏生理学的未来问题的前景和挑战。