confocal microscope for 4D imaging of multicellular structure and activity

多细胞系统结构形成的基础是活性物质物理学中的一个热点问题。近年来，除了遗传调控外，机械力的作用也成为一门独立的学科，即机械生物学。干细胞的分化和多细胞系统的相关生长已经取得了进展，可以创建人工“类器官”，这在基础研究中具有巨大的潜力，但也适用于药物测试研究。该领域的一个基本问题是如何在细胞外环境中通过人工纳米和微结构控制生长，以及如何开启所需的细胞功能。Serwane博士领导的新成立的初级研究小组正在研究从单个细胞中生长人工神经网络（视网膜类器官），这是他的ERC启动资助项目ROMB的一部分。在Rädler教授的工作组中，在SFB 1032的框架内研究了人工纳米和微米结构中单个细胞和细胞簇的细胞迁移（纳米制剂）“分子和细胞过程的时空控制”。在这种情况下，联合共聚焦显微镜被应用于，它允许在复杂的3D细胞系统中显示从几百纳米到几毫米的尺度，以及使用基于激光的技术来测试和操纵它们。共聚焦显微镜必须能够在较长时间内记录生理和人工环境中的细胞行为（4D图像）。以下标准对于项目至关重要：1.不同的激光线，以便能够成像不同的细胞成分。2.记录纳米结构环境的空间分辨率（<200 nm），3.快速荧光测量（Ca成像）以读出神经元反应（每个图像<25 ms，具有最佳信噪比）4. 48小时内4D测量的光毒性较低。5.快速光谱探测以表征局部光-物质相互作用。相应的设备在椅子上或市中心物理系附近都没有。此次采购是为了替换Rädler椅上一台使用了19年的共聚焦显微镜。

The basics of the structure formation of multicellular systems is a current question in the physics of active matter. In recent years, in addition to genetic regulation, the role of mechanical forces has also become an independent subject, mechanobiology. The differentiation of stem cells and the associated growth of multicellular systems has progressed so far that artificial "organoids" can be created, which have enormous potential in basic research, but also for pharmaceutical test studies. A fundamental question in the field is how growth can be controlled by artificial nano- and microstructures in the extracellular environment and how the desired cellular functions can be switched on.The newly established junior research group led by Dr. Serwane is studying the growth of artificial neural networks (retina organoids) from individual cells as part of his ERC Starting Grant project ROMB. In the working group of Prof Rädler, cell migration of individual cells and cell clusters in artificial nano- and micro-constructs is investigated within the framework of the SFB 1032 (Nanoagents) "spatiotemporal control of molecular and cellular processes".In this context, a joint confocal microscope is applied for, which allows scales in the range from a few hundred nanometers to several millimeters to be displayed in complex 3D cell systems, as well as to test and manipulate them using laser-based techniques. It is essential that the confocal microscope is able to record cell behavior in physiological and artificial environments over a longer period of time (4D image).The following criteria are of central importance for the projects: 1. Different laser lines in order to be able to image different cellular components. 2. Spatial resolution with which nanostructured environments are recorded (<200nm), 3. Fast fluorescence measurements (Ca imaging) to read out neuronal responses (<25 ms per image, with an optimal signal-to-noise ratio) 4. Low phototoxicity for 4D measurements over 48h. 5. Fast spectral detection to characterize local light-matter interaction. A corresponding device is not available either at the chair or in the vicinity of the physics faculty in the city center. The procurement is to replace a 19-year-old confocal microscope from the original equipment at the Rädler chair.