STED-FCS · Analysis of single molecules at high concentration in stimulated emission depletion generated zeptoliter volumes with fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

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Project objective

The objective of this proposal comes from a wish and need in fluorescence-based bioanalytical studies to detect single molecules, one by one, even at high biological concentrations.At present, commonly used optical microscopes applied in the detection of single molecules, using diffraction-limited observation volumes (lateral size ~200nm; axial ~ 500 nm), only allow for single molecules to be detected at pico- to nanomolar concentrations. The aim of the proposal is to develop a new tool that makes spectroscopic measurements possible even at higher concentrations, i.e. in the micromolar range.The novel tool will combine STED (stimulated emission depletion) and FCS (fluorescence correlation spectroscopy) microscopy. The multidisciplinary STED-FCS project intends to generate a non-contact optical technique, where a detection volume can be placed anywhere in solution, including inside of cells. This will open the possibility to study single biomolecules in ultra-small focal volumes, even at high concentrations, in a non-invasive fashion.The fellowship will make it possible for the applicant to acquire very unique skills and give him the opportunity to develop and use a new state-of-the-art nanospectroscopic tool. Moreover, this will definitively secure his future academic career in the area of ultra-sensitive fluorescence spectroscopy.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V. · MUENCHENCoordinatorGermany

Links

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