Miniaturised 3D biomedical imaging: multimodal miniature microscope development

博士项目的目标是利用MEMS（微机电系统）技术和主动微光学开发新型的具有成本效益的小型化生物医学成像系统。近年来，新兴的成像技术极大地促进了对生物医学发展过程和相互作用的理解，仅在过去的5年里，就有两项与生物医学成像技术相关的诺贝尔奖。然而，这些新技术仍然昂贵，限制了在资金较少的实验室和发展中国家的分发和可及性。为了解决这一可用性差距，本研究的目标是开发具有互补光声显微镜（PAM）读数的小型化光片显微镜（LSM）系统。LSM具有低光剂量和低光毒性的快速3D荧光成像的优点，允许长期生物医学过程的研究，而PAM近年来的研究兴趣越来越大，层析成像和光学分辨率方案在生物医学应用中实现了无标签、深层组织成像的好处。该项目将开发新技术，以小型化和结合多种成像模式，增加成像深度和厚生物样品的成像潜力。这种微型化将基于光学微机电系统（MEMS）技术，微光学和3d打印，学生将通过主管和我们研究生物医学成像系统的研究小组的其他成员获得所有技术部分的支持和经验。该博士职位将有利于并促进一个更广泛的小型化生物医学成像系统研究项目，该项目由RAEng工程促进发展研究奖学金资助，该奖学金在发展中国家有积极的合作伙伴，特别是印度（印度理工学院甘地纳加尔），以及美国（斯坦福大学）和日本（东京大学）。学生将被期望融入并为这些合作参与做出贡献，包括花时间在合作者的实验室。

The aim of the PhD project is the development of novel cost-effective, miniaturised biomedical imaging systems using MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) technology and active micro-optics. Emerging imaging technologies have contributed immensely to the understanding of biomedical development processes and interactions in recent times, with two Nobel Prices related to biomedical imaging techniques awarded in the last 5 years alone. These novel techniques are however still costly, limiting distribution and accessibility in less funded labs and developing countries.Tackling this availability gap, an approach of miniaturisation for the development of a miniaturised light sheet microscopy (LSM) system with complementary photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) readout is targeted in this studentship. LSM has the benefit of fast 3D fluorescence imaging with low light doses and low photo toxicity, allowing investigations of long term biomedical processes, while PAM has seen an increased research interest in recent years, with tomographic and optical resolution schemes implementing the benefit of label free, deep tissue imaging in biomedical applications. The project will develop new techniques to miniaturise and combine multiple imaging modalities, looking at increasing imaging depth and imaging potential in thick biological samples. This miniaturisation will be based on optical Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) technology, micro-optics and 3D-printing, with the student receiving support and gaining experience on all technological parts of this through the supervisors and further members of our research group working on biomedical imaging systems.The PhD position will benefit and contribute to a wider program of research on miniaturised biomedical imaging systems, sponsored by a RAEng Engineering for Development Research Fellowship which has active collaborative partners in developing countries, specifically India (Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar), as well as the United States (Stanford University) and Japan (University of Tokyo). The student will be expected to be integrated and contribute to these collaborative involvements, including the aim to spend time at the laboratories of collaborators.