Two-Photon Microscopy for Biomedical Research

描述(申请人提供)：双光子显微镜正在给现代显微镜的许多方面带来革命性的变化，并对整个生物医学研究产生巨大影响。双光子仪器提供的主要优势是能够在组织样本中深入成像，并大大增强了活细胞工作的能力。综上所述，这些技术能力为研究人员开辟了一系列新的战略。购买双光子显微镜需要资金，该显微镜由蔡司(LSM 510)激光扫描共聚焦显微镜和变色龙XR钛：蓝宝石激光组成，可提供与活体组织成像兼容的飞秒脉冲。该仪器将被集成到UCSB共享显微镜设施中。这一公共核心设施由我们的神经科学研究所(加州大学的一个跨学科组织的研究单位)和我们的分子、细胞和发育生物学系联合运营，17年来一直为UCSB调查人员提供共享的显微镜仪器和技术支持。该设施的全职主任布莱恩·松本博士在尖端显微镜的多个方面都是公认的专家。目前，该设施的主要仪器包括一台奥林巴斯FluoView共聚焦激光扫描显微镜、一台JEOL透射式电子显微镜和四台配备数码相机的最先进的奥林巴斯荧光显微镜。共焦显微镜和电子显微镜都是通过共享仪器计划获得的，都得到了广泛的使用和精心的维护。UCSB由美国国立卫生研究院资助的多名研究人员将受益于该仪器提供的扩展应用范围，包括在组织样本内部进行深层成像的能力，以及在不存在通常与单光子方法相关的光毒性的情况下对活细胞或组织进行的体外分析。因此，这一双光子显微镜的获得将加强UCSB的许多研究人员在追求他们由NIH资助的研究目标方面的多样化努力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Two-photon microscopy is revolutionizing many aspects of modern microscopy and having a dramatic impact upon biomedical research in general. The major advantages provided by two-photon instruments are the ability to image deep within tissue samples and the greatly enhanced abilities for live-cell work. Taken together, these technical capabilities open up an enormous array of novel strategies for investigators.Funds are requested for the purchase of a 2- photon microscope, composed of a Zeiss (LSM 510) laser scanning confocal microscope and a Chameleon XR Ti:Sapphire laser acquired from Coherent, providing femtosecond pulses compatible with live-tissue imaging. The instrument will be integrated into the UCSB Shared Microscopy Facility. This communal core facility, operated jointly by our Neuroscience Research Institute (an interdisciplinary Organized Research Unit of the University of California) and our Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology has been providing shared microscopy instrumentation and technical support to UCSB investigators for 17 years. The full-time Director of the Facility, Dr. Brian Matsumoto, is an acknowledged expert in multiple aspects of cutting-edge microscopy. Presently, the major instrumentation in the Facility includes an Olympus Fluoview Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope, a JEOL transmission electron microscope, and four state-of-the-art Olympus fluorescence microscopes with digital cameras. The confocal and electron microscopes were both acquired via the Shared Instrumentation Program, and both have been used extensively and maintained meticulously. Various NIH-funded investigators at UCSB will benefit from the expanded repertoire of applications provided by this instrument, including the ability to image deep within tissue samples and the in-vitro analysis of living cells or tissues across time in the absence of the phototoxicity typically associated with single-photon approaches. Acquisition of this 2-photon microscope will therefore enhance the diverse efforts of a number of investigators at UCSB in pursuit of their NIH-funded research objectives.