Super-resolution microscopy offers a non-invasive and real-time tool for probing the subcellular structures and activities on nanometer precision. Exploring adequate luminescent probes is a great concern for acquiring higher-resolution image. Benefiting from the atomic-like transitions among real energy levels, lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles are featured by unique optical properties including excellent photostability, large anti-Stokes shifts, multicolor narrowband emissions, tunable emission lifetimes, etc. The past few years have witnessed the development of upconversion nanoparticles as probes for super-resolution imaging studies. To date, the optimal resolution reached 28 nm (λ/36) for single nanoparticles and 82 nm (λ/12) for cytoskeleton structures with upconversion nanoparticles. Compared with conventional probes such as organic dyes and quantum dots, upconversion nanoparticle-related super-resolution microscopy is still in the preliminary stage, and both opportunities and challenges exist. In this perspective article, we summarized the recent advances of upconversion nanoparticles for super-resolution microscopy and projected the future directions of this emerging field. This perspective article should be enlightening for designing efficient upconversion nanoprobes for super-resolution imaging and promote the development of upconversion nanoprobes for cell biology applications.

超分辨率显微镜提供了一种非侵入性的实时工具，可以以纳米精度探测亚细胞结构和活性。探索足够的发光探针是获取更高分辨率图像的重要考虑因素。受益于真实能级之间的原子状跃迁，掺杂镧系元素的上转换纳米粒子具有独特的光学特性，包括出色的光稳定性，大的斯托克斯频移，多色窄带发射，可调节的发射寿命等。过去几年见证了这种现象。上转换纳米颗粒的开发，作为超分辨率成像研究的探针。迄今为止，单个纳米粒子的最佳分辨率达到28 nm（λ/ 36），带有上转换纳米粒子的细胞骨架结构的最佳分辨率达到82 nm（λ/ 12）。与常规探针（如有机染料和量子点）相比，与上转换纳米粒子相关的超分辨率显微镜仍处于初步阶段，机遇与挑战并存。在这篇观点文章中，我们总结了用于超分辨率显微镜的上转换纳米颗粒的最新进展，并预测了该新兴领域的未来方向。该观点文章对于设计用于超分辨率成像的高效上转换纳米探针应具有启发性，并促进用于细胞生物学应用的上转换纳米探针的发展。我们总结了用于超分辨率显微镜的上转换纳米粒子的最新进展，并预测了该新兴领域的未来方向。该观点文章对于设计用于超分辨率成像的高效上转换纳米探针应具有启发性，并促进用于细胞生物学应用的上转换纳米探针的发展。我们总结了用于超分辨率显微镜的上转换纳米粒子的最新进展，并预测了该新兴领域的未来方向。该观点文章对于设计用于超分辨率成像的高效上转换纳米探针应具有启发性，并促进用于细胞生物学应用的上转换纳米探针的发展。