The present invention relates to a genetically controlled nanoscopy contrast-
generating unit comprising a
metal interactor, wherein the
metal interactor is compatible with nanoscopy fixation protocols, nanoscopy post-fixation protocols, and nanoscopy
metal staining protocols and wherein the metal
interactor is a molecule to which metal ions can bind to or react with. The present invention also relates to a genetically controlled
structural element, wherein said genetically controlled
structural element organizes the genetically controlled nanoscopy contrast-
generating unit. The genetically controlled
structural element can be an encapsulin and the genetically controlled nanoscopy contrast-
generating unit can be one or two murine
metallothionein-3, or three chimeric metallothioneins. The present invention also relates to a genetically controlled
scaffold, wherein said genetically controlled
scaffold spatially organizes the genetically controlled structural elements. The present invention also relates to the use of such genetically controlled nanoscopy contrast-generating unit, such genetically controlled structural element, and / or such genetically controlled
scaffold for nanoscopy detection methods. The present invention also relates to a nanobiomaterial consisting of the isolated genetically controlled structural elements, and / or genetically controlled scaffolds. The present invention also relates to vectors comprising a
nucleic acid encoding a genetically controlled nanoscopy contrast-generating unit, a genetically controlled structural element, and / or a genetically controlled scaffold.