Super Resolution 3D Microscopy for Nano-structured Lab-in-fibre

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A purpose-build super-resolution inverted microscope station will be developed to serve multiple purposes towards development of (1) Lab-in-fibre, (2) nano-structured surfaces, (3) smart catheters / flexible biosensors, (4) optical network circuits, (5) lab-in-film integrated circuits, and (6) optical processing tools at forefronts of non-linear optical sciences and nano-plasmonic sensing. The platform will facilitate new forms of optical fiber packaging and assembly that interconnect our laser-fabricated devices with optical sources, micro-electromechanical structures, and optical sensors while also facilitating their facile integration with electrical, thermal, and micro- and nano-fluidic control systems. The powerful workstation will further enable our assembled micro-systems be probed by our femtosecond lasers for multi-photon and multi-beam imaging for high resolution applications including three-dimensional imaging. In this way, we will be able to study and optimize the design of the intricate nano-structure and optical networks we have formed inside the optical fibers and follow with advanced development of micro- and nano-tools to study and manipulate live cells, bacteria, protein and ultimately DNA on size scales breaking below 100 nm. Distortion free imaging with dry, oil- (matched to glass), and water-immersion lens are required to drive lab-in-fibre research over a range of environments and applications connected to new academic, medical and industry support research. A modular inverted Microscope Platform will be complemented with various visible to IR sources that fill out gaps in our spectral sources and characterization tools. Precision alignment motors and advanced imaging software ensure state of the art microscopy will be available while our reconfigurable platform provides wide latitude for real-time imaging diagnostics through to laser nano-machining of our devices or biological species from within the single assembly-probe platform. The new research platform will enable development of fiber cladding photonics for telecom and sensing applications, of optofluidic sensors for widely based laboratory, manufacturing, industrial and environmental monitoring applications, and new types of bioprobes and smart catheters for point-of-care, surgical and other medical procedures.