UNS:MEMS-based Fiber-optic Two-photon Microscopy Probe for Real Time In vivo 3D Neural Imaging in Freely Behaving Animals

摘要PI：谢慧凯提案：1512531了解大脑中的细胞、生理和解剖学变化如何改变行为是基础神经科学的巨大挑战之一。将大脑和行为联系起来的一种信息方法是不断检查行为活跃的动物的大脑结构和功能。该项目的目标是开发一种新型的微型双光子显微镜（fTPM）探针，并使用它来成像和了解清醒的自由运动动物的神经活动和解剖结构。虽然光纤双光子显微镜（fTPM）方法已显示出在自然状态下进行脑成像的前景，但目前的迭代缺乏有效的3D扫描能力，并且不适合用于小鼠，哺乳动物大脑神经回路功能机械解剖的首要模型。探头的小型化是由一个独特的MEMS致动器设计，横向和轴向激光扫描。具体任务是：（1）开发一种内置全3D扫描功能的微型MEMS光纤探头;（2）通过对小鼠皮层和脑深部组织中的精细神经结构进行长期体内成像来验证探头的性能;（3）使用微型探头对清醒、自由活动的小鼠随时间推移的神经元形态和活动进行成像和分析。

AbstractPI: Xie, HuikaiProposal: 1512531Understanding how cellular, physiological, and anatomical changes in the brain alter behavior is one of the great challenges in basic neuroscience. An informative approach to linking brain and behavior is to continuously examine brain structure and function in actively behaving animals. The objective of this project is to develop a novel miniature two-photon microscopy (fTPM) probe and use it to image and gain insight of neural activity and anatomy in awake, freely moving animals.While fiber-optic two-photon microscopy (fTPM) approaches have shown promise for brain imaging in a natural state, current iterations lack efficient 3D-scanning capabilities and are not amenable for use in mice, the premier model for the mechanistic dissection of neural circuit function in the mammalian brain. The miniaturization of the probe is enabled by a unique electrothermal MEMS actuator design for both lateral and axial laser scanning. Specific tasks are (1) to develop a miniature MEMS-based fiber-optic probe with built-in full 3D scanning capability; (2) to validate the performance of the probe by performing chronic in vivo imaging of fine neural structure in cortical and deep-brain tissue in mice; and (3) to image and analyze neuronal morphology and activity, in awake, freely moving mice over time, using the miniature probe.