Lumos maxima – How robust fluorophores resist photobleaching?

Fluorescent dyes synergize with advanced microscopy for researchers to investigate the location and dynamic processes of biomacromolecules with high spatial and temporal resolution. However, the instability of fluorescent dyes, including photobleaching and photoconversion, represent fundamental limits for super-resolution and time-lapse imaging. In this review, we discuss the latest advances in improving the photostability of fluorescent dyes. We summarize the primary photobleaching processes of cyanine and rhodamine dyes and highlight a range of strategies developed in recent years to strengthen these fluorophores. Additionally, we discuss the influence of protein microenvironments and labeling methods on the photostability of fluorophores. We aim to inspire next-generation robust and bright fluorophores that ultimately enable the routine practice of time-lapse super-resolution imaging of live cells.