Lasers for blue excitation in a confocal fluorescence microscope

该提案要求63，682美元，用于紧急维修和升级蔡司880共焦激光扫描显微镜系统。LSM包含能够在可见光范围内成像生物样品和材料的激光器。此外，LSM包含用于多光子成像的超快飞秒激光系统。不幸的是，超快激光器坏了，需要修理。此外，显微镜缺乏对活细胞成像所必需的蓝色激光。因此，我们正在请求资源来修复超快激光器并获得蓝色激光器升级。LSM目前是先进材料和相关技术中心（CAMTEC）共享设施的一部分。目前，大约有24名研究生正在使用该系统进行论文或学位论文。他们的研究跨越几个领域，包括癌症治疗，干细胞，超分子化学和非线性光学。 所要求的设备对他们不间断地继续进行研究至关重要。使用LSM开发的一些需要蓝色激光激发的项目包括嵌入癌细胞的生物材料（聚合物或凝胶）的成像和3D打印组织模拟物的表征。多光子激光将用于金属纳米结构的非线性光学研究。

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.