Lasers for blue excitation in a confocal fluorescence microscope

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This proposal seeks $63,682 to provide an urgent repair and an upgrade to a Zeiss 880 confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM) system. The LSM contains lasers capable of imaging biosamples and materials in the visible range. Moreover, the LSM contains a ultrafast femtosecond laser system for multiphoton imaging. Unfortunately, the ultrafast laser has broken down and need to be fixed. Moreover, the microscope lacks a blue laser that is necessary for imaging of live cells. Therefore, we are requesting resources to fix the ultrafast laser and to acquire a blue laser upgrade. The LSM is currently part of a shared facility at the Center for Advanced Materials and Related Technologies (CAMTEC). About 24 graduate students are currently using this system for their thesis or dissertation. Their research span several areas, including cancer treatments, stem cell, supramolecular chemistry and nonlinear optics. The requested equipment is essential for their research to continue without interruption. Some of the projects being developed using the LSM that requires a blue laser for excitation include imaging of biomaterials (polymers or gels) embedded with cancer cells and the characterization of 3D printed tissues mimics. The multiphoton laser will be used in nonlinear optical investigation of metallic nanostructures.