A brighter future cutting-edge multiphoton imaging at Nottingham

光学显微镜提供了对生命基本过程的详细观察：它们让我们看到细胞内部或不同生物网络之间发生的事情。通过微创成像技术的发展，我们现在可以在完整的组织甚至完整的整个生物体中进行手术。多光子显微镜是能够对活组织进行三维研究的首选仪器。与传统的显微镜相比，这种多光子显微镜可以通过更长的、毒性更小的不可见波长来观察普通的荧光信号和组织结构。这提供了许多优点。首先，这意味着我们可以观察生物过程，而对我们正在研究的系统的影响较小——这是因为生物组织中自然存在的分子不太可能被这些较长的波长破坏。其次，在多光子显微镜中使用的长波使我们能够更深入地观察组织，因为长波与生物组织的相互作用较少。第三，这项技术使我们能够在三维空间中解析信号，包括深度，使我们能够区分彼此靠近的结构，即使一个在另一个的顶部。这些综合能力，目前在诺丁汉还不具备，为研究对生命和健康规则至关重要的重要生物过程提供了一系列机会。例如，这种多光子显微镜将使我们能够对诺丁汉正在开发的厚而复杂的组织或生物材料进行3D成像。我们将能够实时地看到整个动物体内发生的过程，这很重要，因为许多非常复杂的网络（例如神经系统和血管网络）不容易在培养皿中复制。该平台还将与诺丁汉现有的专业知识和工作流程相结合，从许多不同的角度和尺度观察相同的样品。这使得在该国其他任何地方都不可能进行的转译、多模式研究成为可能。有了这个系统，诺丁汉大学的研究人员和区域工业合作伙伴将能够更好地理解这些复杂的组织和系统，并实时研究发生的变化，更清晰，对所研究系统的影响最小。这种多光子显微镜是诺丁汉学术和工业网络研究能力中缺失的重要工具。它将通过支持关于生命和健康基础的现有研究，帮助吸引和留住中部地区有才华的研究人员，并为该地区提供尚未开发潜力的新的基本能力。

Optical microscopes provide a detailed view into the fundamental processes of life: they let us look at what is happening inside cells, or between different biological networks. Through the development of minimally invasive imaging techniques, we can now do so in intact tissues or even intact whole organisms. The multiphoton microscope is the go-to instrument to be able to achieve such three-dimensional investigations of live tissues. The multiphoton microscope can visualise common fluorescent signals and tissue structures through much longer and less toxic, invisible wavelengths, than would be used on more conventional microscopes. This provides a host of advantages. Firstly, it means that we can observe biological processes with less effect on the system we are studying - this is because molecules present naturally in biological tissues are less likely to be damaged by these longer wavelengths. Secondly, the longer wavelengths used in multiphoton microscopy enable us to look deeper into tissues because longer wavelengths interact less with biological tissues. Thirdly this technique allows us to resolve signals in three-dimensions, including depth, allowing us to differentiate structures that are close to one another, even when one is on top of the other. These combined abilities, currently not available in Nottingham, open a range of opportunities to investigate important biological processes which are fundamental to the rules of life and health. For example, this multiphoton microscope will enable us to image thick and complex tissues or biological materials that are being developed in Nottingham, in 3D. We will be able to visualise processes occurring in real-time, in the whole animal which is important because many very intricate networks (e.g. nervous system and vascular networks) cannot easily be reproduced in a dish. This platform will also integrate with already existing expertise and workflows in Nottingham, to look at the same samples from many different angles and scales. This enables translational, multimodal research that is not possible anywhere else in the country. With this system, researchers in Nottingham and regional industrial partners, will be able to better understand these complex tissues and systems, and study changes occurring in real-time, with better clarity and minimal effect on the systems being studied.This multiphoton microscope is an essential tool missing in the research capabilities of academic and industrial networks in Nottingham. It will help attract and retain talented researchers in the Midlands by supporting existing research on the fundamentals of life and health and provide new essential capabilities to the region with yet untapped potential.