Nanoscale Characterisation of Biological and Bioinspired Materials using Integrated Fluidic Force - High-Resolution Confocal Microscopy

我们提出了一种新的成像平台，将超快速共聚焦成像与集成流控力显微镜（FluidFM-UFCLSM）提供的纳米流控功能相结合。提出的能力通过实现局部生化和生理过程的特征，开启了生物系统探索的新阶段。提出的能力为新的抗菌剂，功能遗传学和可持续作物的开发等特定应用提供了新的途径。FluidFM-UFCLSM的独特设计能够容纳一系列复杂的生物样品，以执行生物膜，组织，整个植物，小动物，昆虫，粘膜，食物系统和组织支架水凝胶的定量和预测性表征。FluidFM-UFCLSM的独特之处在于，它可以研究生物组织的最小单位，如蛋白质，也可以研究较大的物体，如细胞、组织和器官。FluidFM-UFCLSM的使用跨越了许多学科，并为生物膜形成、植物科学、组织工程、食品科学和细胞生理学等领域的广泛研究课题带来了好处。FluidFM-UFCLSM应用的一些例子有：1)阐明抗微生物耐药性和群体感应的局部机制1)探索免疫细胞与肺上皮之间的相互作用是Covid-19病原体的关键途径之一2)揭示植物发育和机械信号传导的秘密，以开发新的抗性作物3)探索营养对肠道微生物群和相关健康结果的影响4)探索新的植物模拟材料，设计新的环境可持续的食物相容膜更广泛的影响领域将通过支持新兴领域的研究来实现，这些研究针对粮食安全、改善营养、动物和人类健康、对抗抗菌素耐药性、微生物组研究、工业生物技术、废物估价、可持续农业和合成生物学等主要问题和挑战。

We propose a new imaging platform that combines ultra-fast confocal imaging with the the nano-fluidic functionality delivered by an integrated Fluidic Force microscope (FluidFM-UFCLSM). The proposed capability opens a new phase of exploration of biological systems by enabling characterisation of localised biochemical and physiological processes. The proposed capability provides new avenues for specific applications such as new antimicrobial agents, functional genetics and the development of sustainable crops. The unique design of FluidFM-UFCLSM enables accommodating an array of complex biological samples to perform quantitative and predictive characterisation of biofilms, tissues, whole plants, small animals, insects, mucosal membranes, food systems and tissue scaffold hydrogels. The unique feature of FluidFM-UFCLSM is it will enable study of the smallest units of biological organisation such as proteins as well as larger objects such as cells, tissues and organs. The use of FluidFM-UFCLSM cuts across many disciplines and delivers benefits to a broad range of research topics in the areas of biofilm formation, plant science, tissue engineering, food science and cell physiology. Some examples of FluidFM-UFCLSM applications are: 1) Elucidate anti-microbial resistance and the localised mechanisms underpinning quorum sensing 1) Probe interaction between immune cells with lung epithelium as one of the key pathways of Covid-19 pathogenies2) Uncover the secrets of plant development and mechanical signalling to develop new resistant crops3) Probe the effect of nutrition on gut microbiome and associated health outcomes4) Explore new plant-mimetic materials for designing new food-compatible films for environmentally sustainable food production The broader areas of impact will be achieved by supporting emerging areas research that targets the major problems and challenges of food security, improved nutrition, animal and human health, combatting antimicrobial resistance, microbiome research, industrial biotechnology, waste valorisation, sustainable agricultural and synthetic biology.