MRI-R2: Development of biophotonics instrumentation for sensing subcellular structure at nanoscale

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助的。拟议中的仪器将允许在纳米尺度上进行细胞成像，其分辨率和灵敏度远远高于目前光学显微镜所能实现的水平。该仪器将结合最先进的共焦显微镜和部分波光谱模块。该仪器将允许以高达几纳米的灵敏度对细胞纳米级结构进行量化，几乎实时地进行分子和结构成像。该仪器既可用于活细胞，也可用于固定细胞。该仪器利用了一种新的光学技术--单细胞部分波光谱显微镜。该仪器将提供有关细胞纳米结构及其与分子事件的关系的信息，这是以前无法获得的。拟议中的显微镜将是一种独特的设备，将为基础科学和翻译研究开辟新的方向，包括细胞生物学、生物工程和开发新的诊断设备、纳米技术、基础电磁学、组织工程和大分子生物物理学。

0960148BackmanThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The proposed instrument will allow cellular imaging at the nanoscale with resolution and sensitivity that are much higher than what is currently possible with optical microscopy. The instrument will combine the state-of-the-art confocal microscope and a partial wave spectroscopy module. The instrument will allow quantification of cellular nanoscale architecture with sensitivity up to a few nanometers, molecular as well as structural imaging in nearly real time. The instrument will work with live as well as fixed cells. The instrumentation takes advantage of a novel optical technology, single-cell partial-wave spectroscopic microscopy. The instrument will provide information about cell nanoarchitecture and its relationship to molecular events, which has not been possible to obtain before. The proposed microscope will be a unique device that will open new directions for basic science as well as translational research including cell biology, bioengineering and development of novel diagnostic devices, nanotechnology, fundamental electromagnetics, tissue engineering, and macromolecular biophysics.