Quantitative Nanoscale Imaging of Trace Elements in Biological Systems

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The project we propose involves research into novel chemical imaging methodology for 2D and 3D visualisation of trace elements in cells and tissues with greatly improved sensitivity, easy of reliability and magnification over current approaches. The technology includes powerful lasers for the uniform and highly sensitive detection of atoms and small molecules ejected from biological specimens under bombardment from high energy particles. The result is a multi-element chemical map of the specimen showing detail on the sub-cellular length scale. We shall demonstrate the power of this approach in the detection and localisation of cancer drugs in cells and model tissues. However, the methodology we will develop will be more widely applicable in a number of important biological problems involving trace element transport, storage and distribution. This includes but is not limited to drug development, disease diagnosis and fundamental cell biology.