A brighter future cutting-edge multiphoton imaging at Nottingham

光学显微镜提供了对生命基本过程的详细观察：它们让我们看到细胞内或不同生物网络之间发生的事情。通过微创成像技术的发展，我们现在可以在完整的组织甚至整个生物体中做到这一点。多光子显微镜是能够实现对活体组织进行这种三维研究的首选仪器。与更传统的显微镜相比，多光子显微镜可以通过更长且毒性更低的不可见波长来可视化常见的荧光信号和组织结构。这提供了一系列优势。首先，这意味着我们可以在对我们正在研究的系统影响较小的情况下观察生物过程-这是因为生物组织中自然存在的分子不太可能受到这些较长波长的破坏。其次，多光子显微镜中使用的较长波长使我们能够更深入地观察组织，因为较长波长与生物组织的相互作用较少。第三，这项技术使我们能够分辨三维信号，包括深度，使我们能够区分彼此接近的结构，即使一个结构在另一个结构的顶部。这些综合能力目前在诺丁汉还没有，它们为研究重要的生物过程提供了一系列机会，这些过程是生命和健康规则的基础。例如，这种多光子显微镜将使我们能够对诺丁汉正在开发的厚重而复杂的组织或生物材料进行3D成像。我们将能够实时可视化整个动物体内发生的过程，这一点很重要，因为许多非常复杂的网络(例如神经系统和血管网络)不能轻易在培养皿中复制。该平台还将与诺丁汉现有的专业知识和工作流程相结合，从许多不同的角度和规模查看相同的样本。这使得翻译、多模式研究成为可能，这在该国其他任何地方都是不可能的。有了这个系统，诺丁汉的研究人员和地区工业合作伙伴将能够更好地了解这些复杂的组织和系统，并实时研究发生的变化，更清晰，对正在研究的系统影响最小。这种多光子显微镜是诺丁汉学术和工业网络研究能力所缺少的重要工具。它将通过支持关于生命和健康基础的现有研究，帮助吸引和留住中部地区的有才华的研究人员，并为该地区提供新的基本能力，但潜力尚未开发。

Optical microscopes provide a detailed view into the fundamental processes of life: they let us look at what is happening inside cells, or between different biological networks. Through the development of minimally invasive imaging techniques, we can now do so in intact tissues or even intact whole organisms. The multiphoton microscope is the go-to instrument to be able to achieve such three-dimensional investigations of live tissues. The multiphoton microscope can visualise common fluorescent signals and tissue structures through much longer and less toxic, invisible wavelengths, than would be used on more conventional microscopes. This provides a host of advantages. Firstly, it means that we can observe biological processes with less effect on the system we are studying - this is because molecules present naturally in biological tissues are less likely to be damaged by these longer wavelengths. Secondly, the longer wavelengths used in multiphoton microscopy enable us to look deeper into tissues because longer wavelengths interact less with biological tissues. Thirdly this technique allows us to resolve signals in three-dimensions, including depth, allowing us to differentiate structures that are close to one another, even when one is on top of the other. These combined abilities, currently not available in Nottingham, open a range of opportunities to investigate important biological processes which are fundamental to the rules of life and health. For example, this multiphoton microscope will enable us to image thick and complex tissues or biological materials that are being developed in Nottingham, in 3D. We will be able to visualise processes occurring in real-time, in the whole animal which is important because many very intricate networks (e.g. nervous system and vascular networks) cannot easily be reproduced in a dish. This platform will also integrate with already existing expertise and workflows in Nottingham, to look at the same samples from many different angles and scales. This enables translational, multimodal research that is not possible anywhere else in the country. With this system, researchers in Nottingham and regional industrial partners, will be able to better understand these complex tissues and systems, and study changes occurring in real-time, with better clarity and minimal effect on the systems being studied.This multiphoton microscope is an essential tool missing in the research capabilities of academic and industrial networks in Nottingham. It will help attract and retain talented researchers in the Midlands by supporting existing research on the fundamentals of life and health and provide new essential capabilities to the region with yet untapped potential.