Quantum Cascade Laser s-SNOM for intracellular imaging

最近，我们首次发现了如何使用固态近场成像技术，即所谓的s-SNOM来观察细胞内部。它比普通显微镜的衍射极限高出约3000倍，而且它提供的空间分辨率（约3nm）已经可以与最好的电子显微镜相媲美，而花费的时间和成本只是电子显微镜的一小部分。我们相信它有潜力改变生物医学科学。我们已经展示了它是如何第一次用光学成像细胞内的细胞器的这是第一次。此外，由于它在中红外波段工作，化学键具有特征的振动吸收带，使其具有光谱“指纹”，因此该技术可用于提供纳米级化学图谱，例如揭示药物在细胞内的结合位置。该项目的最初目标将是与帝国医学院一起追踪和开发这项技术，重点关注以下主题：(1)乳腺癌的病理，(2)多发性骨髓瘤的耐药性，(3)骨质疏松症的纳米级原因。然而，潜在的应用是无限的，随着项目的进展，我们可能会建立更多的合作。此外，量子成像领域的最新发展已经证明了通过探测与物体没有实际相互作用的光子来成像物体的新方法。通过与光学小组和QUANTIC2量子成像中心的同事合作，我们计划研究将这种技术的波长扩展到中红外。还将与团队合作开发用于癌症诊断的衍射有限的“Digistain”成像仪。

Very recently we gave found out how to use a Solid- State near field imaging technique, so-called s-SNOM to look inside cells for the first time. It beats the diffraction limits of ordinary microscopy by a factor of ~3000, and the spatial resolution it gives (~3nm) already rivals the very best of electron microscopy at a fraction of the time effort and cost. We believe it has the potential to transform the biomedical sciences.We have shown how it can image the organelles inside a cell optically for the first time first time ever. Also , because it works at mid-IR wavelengths where chemical bonds have characteristic vibrational absorption bands that give them spectral "fingerprints" , the technique can be used to provide nanoscal chemnical maps that, e.g. reveal where drugs bind inside the cell.The initial aims of the projet will be to trail and develop the technology with Imperial cinicians, with a focus on themes, (1) the pathology pf Breast Cancer, (2) Drug resistance in multiple myeloma, and (3) the nanoscale causes of osteporosis. However, the potential applications are limitless and we will likely establish more collaborations as the programme progresses.Also Recent developments in the field of quantum imaging have demonstrated new methods of imaging objects by detecting photons that have not actually interacted with it. In collaboration with colleagues in the optics groups and the QUANTIC2 Quantum Imaging Hub, we plan to investigate extending the wavelength of this technique into the mid-IR.There will also be collaboration with the team developing the diffraction-limited "Digistain" imager for Cancer diagnosis.