IDBR Type B: Point-spread function engineered parallel scanning optical subsystem for fast quantitative high-resolution and high-sensitivity 3D imaging

科罗拉多大学博尔德分校被授予开发大规模并行的高时空分辨率扫描显微镜子系统。该项目的目标是开发一种全新的显微镜概念，适用于单分子灵敏度的定量活细胞研究，达到商业过渡的程度。高时空分辨率、高灵敏度显微技术的广泛普及可能会影响到科学和工程的多个领域，如细胞内外标记生物分子的三维生物物理和生物医学成像。该项目还将刺激与业界的合作关系，将创新转化为应用。传播计划提供了一条从概念验证到商业发展的途径。科罗拉多大学的合作生物学家将帮助验证新仪器。该项目已经确定了商业化途径，包括通过一家初创公司进行开发，合作制造和分销，以及探索许可协议。该项目还将跨学科教育和外联与研究和开发相结合。它将为年轻的科学家和工程师提供培训，使他们有机会在显微镜实验室进行跨学科研究。该项目的成果将通过面向普通公众和中学生的宣传在出版物中广泛传播。该系统通过提供更高的分辨率和更快的成像速度，克服了传统光学共焦扫描技术的局限性。这些新功能是使用微创荧光技术实现的。由于生物学家目前受到现有光学显微镜有限的时空分辨率和/或深度穿透的限制，所提出的仪器的应用是深远的，用于跟踪多细胞结构的变化，以及监测分子之间的相互作用。

An award is made to the University of Colorado at Boulder to develop a massively parallel high spatio-temporal resolution scanning microscope subsystem. The objective of this project is to develop to the point of commercial transition a radically new microscopy concept suitable for quantitative live cell studies with single molecule sensitivity. The widespread dissemination of high spatio-temporal resolution high-sensitivity microscopy could impact multiple fields of science and engineering such as 3D biophysical and biomedical imaging of labeled biomolecules inside and outside of cells. The project will also stimulate cooperative relations with industry to transfer innovations into applications. The dissemination plan offers a pathway from proof of concept to commercial development. Partner biologists at the University of Colorado will help validate the new instrument. The project has identified commercialization pathways that include development through a startup company, partnering for manufacturing and distribution, and exploring licensing agreements. The project also integrates interdisciplinary education and outreach with research and development. It will provide training to young scientists and engineers with opportunities for interdisciplinary research in microscopy labs. The outcomes of the project will be widely disseminated in publications, via outreach to the general public and middle school students.The system overcomes limitations of traditional optical confocal scanning techniques by providing higher resolution and faster imaging. The new capabilities are realized using minimally invasive fluorescence techniques. Because biologists are currently constrained by the limited spatial - temporal resolution, and/or depth penetration of existing optical microscopes, the applications of the proposed instrument are far-reaching, with use in tracking changes within multi cellular structures, as well as in monitoring interactions between molecules.