H2020Индивидуална стипендия2019–2021

LUCENT · superbright, photostabLe and mUlticolour novel fluoresCent mEtal quaNtum clusters for super-resoluTion imaging

„Хоризонт 2020“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“

Период: 2019-05-01 → 2021-04-30
Финансиране от ЕС: 175 572 €
Участници: 1
Схема: MSCA-IF-EF-ST

Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.

Накратко на български

Металните квантови клъстери се разработват като нови светещи маркери за наноскопия, с които се визуализират обекти като клетъчни структури. Те ще помогнат за подобряване на качеството на изображенията, тъй като сегашните инструменти са ограничени от наличните видове сонди.

Този кратък обзор е генериран от изкуствен интелект

Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.

Резултати накратко

superbright, photostabLe and mUlticolour novel fluoresCent mEtal quaNtum clusters for super-resoluTion imaging

The advent of super resolution optical microscopy (SRM) revolutionized imaging technologies providing new tools to visualize cells and synthetic materials with unprecedented detail. SRM maintains some of the key features of fluorescence microscopy, e.g. multicolour ability and minimal invasiveness, but overcome the diffraction limit (~ 250 nm) offering a nanometric resolution – namely Nanoscopy. Since then, it has become possible to directly detect and image subcellular features and synthetic nanostructures, impacting the fields of cell biology, chemistry and nanotechnology. Although working principles and instrumentation of nanoscopes differ among techniques, they all share the same basic idea: the super resolution does not arise from physical means (e.g. optics) but from the accurate control of the state of the fluorescent markers – i.e. from the photochemistry and photophysics of the labels. The great technological advancements over the last years resulted in a plethora of nanoscopy techniques such as: stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), photo-activated localization microscopy (PALM), and points accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography (PAINT). All these techniques rely on bright photostable fluorophores that can switched on and off in a controlled manner. Therefore, the development of probes suitable for super resolution microscopy is currently the limiting factor for the performances of state-of-the-art nanoscopes. As a result, further advancements in the field critically depend on the ability to develop and manipulate fluorescent probes, which are still numbered. This project aims to provide novel model systems for improved single molecule imaging by developing photoluminescent metal quantum clusters (MQCs) as advanced optical probes for super-resolution microscopy. MQCs are extremely promising probes for nanoscopy because they effectively combine ultra-small sizes, brightness and high photoluminescence (PL) efficiency with good photostability and chemical inertness, which render them interesting candidates as highly biocompatible fluorescent markers. To this purpose, property-designed nanochemistry routes by combining quantum size effects and surface engineered strategies will be used for producing multicolour MQCs. Using advanced microscopy techniques we aim at fully understanding of the photophysical and photochemistry features of different nanoparticle based probes, revealing properties like brightness, stabilility and photoswitching behaviour at single particle level. Finally, the toxicity and selective targeting of the new probes will be investigated. This research will have a strong impact on broad scientific community, namely materials science, colloidal chemistry and nanoscopy fields.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз

Цел на проекта

The breakthrough of super resolution imaging has revolutionized biology and nanomedicine, allowing to visualize synthetic or biological structures with nanometric accuracy and providing a deeper understanding of complex molecular systems. The key idea at the basis of these methods is the use of novel fluorescent markers endowed with specific properties such as photoswitching, reversible binding, stimulated emission and single molecule imaging capabilities. In this emergent framework the fluorescent markers play a role as important as the optical setup utilized for imaging. Therefore, among the prerequisites for successful nanoscopic imaging the selection of the suitable fluorophore is essential. Despite the recent advances in the development of super-resolution microscopy techniques, fluorescent probes with high brightness, high photostability and low toxicity remains an unmet need. This proposal aims at developing ultrasmall photoluminescent atomic metal quantum clusters as new generation of advanced optical probes for super-resolution microscopy. To this purpose, we will apply a combination of property-designed nanochemistry routes and surface engineered strategies for producing multicolour atomic metal clusters that will provide novel model systems for single molecule imaging. The strategy will focus at three important levels: synthesis, biocompatibility and preliminary cellular imaging, application in super-resolution microscopy. The research activity here proposed could realistically lead to live, multicolour, three-dimensional images with an even higher resolution – down to the molecular level – with applications in biology and nanotechnology. To this end, LUCENT will employ a multidiscicplinary approach whose strength resides in the combination of the complementary expertise of the experienced researcher –design of new probes - and the host institution - nanoscopy.

Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).

Участници

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN · EindhovenКоординаторНидерландия