Development of a platform for super-resolution imaging in non-conventional environments

非常规环境下超分辨率成像平台的开发

• 批准号: 2439067
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Cambridge
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2439067
• 关键词: Development; platform; super; resolution; imaging

Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) is a super-resolution optical microscopy technique that enables sub-diffraction imaging of live samples in multiple colours. This is achieved by illuminating the sample with changing patterns of excitation light and computationally extracting sub-diffraction information from images acquired under three or more different patterns. In addition to a doubling of resolution, additional processing of SIM data allows the rejection of out of focus light, producing optically sectioned images to increase both the contrast and resolution in deep tissues.Since its inception, SIM has become a workhorse technique for biologists wishing to study dynamic structures within living systems. However, current implementations of SIM remain prohibitively expensive and complicated for all but the most well-funded imaging facilities.Additionally, the complexity of existing systems means they can only be operated in heavily controlled environments, and require extensive and complicated hardware control which can be difficult or impossible to replace or repair. This precludes the application of SIM in situations where it is not possible to house bulky apparatus that may be sensitive to temperature and adverse environmental conditions. Examples of this include the cold rooms used to study Antarctic species and the high containment level biological research labs used to study pathogenic samples. The goal of this project is to fundamentally re-design and construct a SIM microscope from the ground up, to offer super resolution microscopy to researchers who previously have been unable to make use of it. This will enable biological research in vital areas, such as virology, where key processes are still poorly understood due to limitations in existing imaging technologies. This project will develop a simple pattern projection technique based on a commercial spatial light modulator, such as those found in low-cost projectors. This will be combined with low-power LED light sources and 3D printed parts which can be easily replaced and do not require access to specialist suppliers. Bundled together, this will be a simple and easily accessible SIM system that can be used outside of traditional optics labs.

结构照明显微镜（SIM）是一种超分辨率光学显微镜技术，可以对多种颜色的活体样品进行亚衍射成像。这是通过用激发光的变化图案照射样品并从在三种或更多种不同图案下获取的图像中计算提取子衍射信息来实现的。除了分辨率加倍外，SIM数据的额外处理还可以排除失焦光，产生光学切片图像，以提高深层组织的对比度和分辨率。自问世以来，SIM已成为希望研究生命系统内动态结构的生物学家的主力技术。然而，除了资金最充足的成像设施之外，SIM的当前实现仍然过于昂贵和复杂。此外，现有系统的复杂性意味着它们只能在严格控制的环境中操作，并且需要大量和复杂的硬件控制，这些硬件控制可能难以或不可能更换或维修。这排除了SIM在不可能容纳可能对温度和不利环境条件敏感的庞大设备的情况下的应用。这方面的例子包括用于研究南极物种的冷藏室和用于研究病原体样本的高封闭水平生物研究实验室。该项目的目标是从根本上重新设计和构建SIM显微镜，为以前无法使用它的研究人员提供超分辨率显微镜。这将使生物学研究在重要领域成为可能，例如病毒学，由于现有成像技术的限制，关键过程仍然知之甚少。该项目将开发一种基于商业空间光调制器的简单图案投影技术，例如低成本投影仪中的空间光调制器。这将与低功率LED光源和3D打印部件相结合，这些部件可以轻松更换，并且不需要访问专业供应商。捆绑在一起，这将是一个简单，易于访问的SIM系统，可以在传统的光学实验室之外使用。