Portable optogenetics/two-photon imaging instrument for in vivo brain studies

项目概要/摘要 物理科学公司(PSI)和伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳尚潘分校（UIUC）提出， 并将一种负担得起的光遗传学/双光子（2 P）成像仪器商业化， 同时操纵和记录转基因动物的神经元活动。的目标 这个项目将把这个非常理想的工具带到神经科学家手中，并扩展他们的能力。 用于研究和破译支撑复杂大脑功能和行为的神经回路。 目前，神经科学家获得这项技术的机会非常有限，因为成本高， 这通常超出了神经科学研究人员的负担能力， （台式安装的显微镜平台对于涉及活体的体内脑研究来说是笨重的。 动物）。 为了实现这一目标，PSI将使用创新技术，包括色散补偿激光传输 通过光纤绳，在光子晶体光纤中产生相干超连续谱（SC）， 选择用于钙敏感荧光的最佳激发的多个激发波长的使用 蛋白质，以及用空间光调制器进行光束控制等。将支持实现这一目标 通过专业知识和开发下一代生物医学设备的良好记录， 来自PSI的研究人员，以及领先研究的工程和神经科学专业知识， 伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校的研究小组。

Project Summary/Abstract Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) propose to develop and commercialize an affordable optogenetics/two-photon (2P) imaging instrument that will enable simultaneous manipulation and recording of neuronal activity in genetically modified animals. The goal of this project is to bring this highly desirable tool into the hands of neuroscientists and expand their capability for investigating and deciphering neural circuits underpinning complex brain function and behavior. Currently, the access of neuroscientists to this technology is profoundly limited, because of both high cost, which is often beyond the affordability of neuroscience researchers, and difficulty of use on live animals (bench-top mounted microscope platforms are cumbersome for in vivo brain studies involving living animals). To reach this goal, PSI will use innovative technologies, including dispersion-compensated laser delivery through a fiber cord, coherent supercontinuum (SC) generation in a photonic crystal fiber that enables the use of multiple excitation wavelengths selected for optimal excitation of calcium-sensitive fluorescent proteins, and beam control with spatial light modulators, etc. The achievement of this goal will be supported by the expertise and a proven track record of developing the next generation biomedical devices of the investigators from PSI, as well as the engineering and neuroscience expertise of the leading research groups at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.