Methods and systems for high resolution fluorescence microscopy of polymeric dye-labeled samples using polarized light

A method for high resolution imaging of a cell, the method comprising:

• (a) contacting a cell labeled with a polymeric dye conjugate that specifically binds a subcellular target under conditions in which the polymeric dye conjugate is localized to the subcellular target location;
• (b) detecting first and second sets of spatially-dependent emission signals from the sample;
• and
• (b) producing a high resolution fluorescence image of the cell from the detected first and second sets of spatially-dependent emission signals.

A system for imaging a sample, the system comprising:

• a high resolution light microscope comprising:
• a light source configured to irradiate a sample field of view with an excitation light for a fluorescent polymeric dye;
• a photodetector configured to detect an emission signal from the sample field of view:
• and
• a polarization modulator disposed in the light pathway between the light source and the photodetector;
• and
• a sample labeled with a polymeric dye and disposed in the sample field of view.