Market research study proposal for an assessment of market opportunities for application of 3D pattern analysis to single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM)

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Super-resolution microscopy has broken the optical diffraction barrier, enabling biologists to visualizemolecular structures at resolutions approaching that of an electron microscope. The best resolution (XY:<20nm; Z: <50nm) is obtained using single molecule localization microscope (SMLM), based on the repeatedactivation (blinking) of discrete fluorophores whose precise localization is determined using a Gaussian fit ofthe point-spread function (PSF). By modeling 3D single-molecule localization data sets as a point cloud, awell-established representation used in 3D visual computing, we established analytical approaches to define thestructure of macromolecular complexes in intact cells. Unsupervised clustering analysis and multi-thresholdmodularity analysis of caveolin-1, a key structural component of ~100 nm caveolae, has defined the modularnature of the caveolae coat structure and shows that smaller non-caveolar Cav1 scaffolds interact to form largerscaffolds and caveolae. We have initiated discussion with Quorum Technologies Inc to refine our software,providing comprehensive documentation and a clear user interface, to develop a stand-alone package for usewith any SMLM microscope system. This application is to support a market assessment through AdventusResearch + Consulting Inc (Guelph, Ontario) to assess the commercial viability of this technology includingvalidation of the potential market size for the technology, validation of the end-user need andwillingness/ability to purchase. Application of computational imaging, network modelling, and machinelearning based 3D pattern analysis tools to SMLM represents a highly innovative and powerful approach todefine molecular structure and molecular interactions in subcellular structures that will lead to themultidisciplinary training of HQP in this burgeoning field.