Objective The objective of this project is to develop new techniques for sub-micrometer-resolved, chemical 3D- mapping of substances in single cells and organised tissues. The techniques will be based on time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and laser secondary neutral mass spectrometry (Laser-SNMS), providing simultaneous identification, localization and co-localization of a variety of substances (lipids, peptides, proteins, drugs and metabolites) without the need for pre-selected molecular labelling. The proposed technology constitutes a significant step beyond current methods for chemical analysis of cell and tissue samples, which can only provide either non-local information of the chemical composition or local information of a few pre-selected substances. To meet the minute quantities of sample substance present in the small volumes to be analysed, the detection sensitivities will be considerably improved relative to current conventional technology. By taking advantage of recent progress in(i) sample preparation techniques,(ii) instrumentation, and(iii) data interpretation methods, and by pushing this development further, the required sensitivities and lateral resolutions below 50 nm will be achieved. Methods for 2D mapping at different depth levels, providing 3D chemical analysis, will also be developed. The proposed techniques will lead to breakthrough discoveries and applications in several fields of research and technology, such as fundamental biology, clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical R&D, nanobiotechnology, and food and environmental impact on health. The project will place Europe in a world leading position in the area of imaging mass spectrometry in biosciences. The present project does not fit into any of the thematic priority areas alone but, instead, cuts across priority areas 1 (life sciences), 3 (NMP) and 5 (food safety) Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsengineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesfood technologyfood safetynatural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrymass spectrometrynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics Keywords Bioimaging Laser-SNMS Nanotechnology Risk Assessment TOF-SIMS biological cells cluster ions lipid membranes mass spectrometry microscopy multivariate statistical method peptides sample preparation tissue characterization Programme(s) FP6-POLICIES - Policy support: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) NEST-2003-1 - Adventure activities Call for proposal FP6-2003-NEST-A See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator SVERIGES PROVNINGS- OCH FORSKNINGSINSTITUT AB EU contribution No data Address Brinellgatan 4 857 BORAAS Sweden See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ION-TOF - GESELLSCHAFT FUER MASSENSPEKTROMETER MBH Germany EU contribution No data Address Gievenbecker Weg 15 MUENSTER See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET Sweden EU contribution No data Address Nobels Vaeg 1 STOCKHOLM See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data LUNDS UNIVERSITET Sweden EU contribution No data Address Paradisgatan 5C LUND See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address University Avenue GLASGOW See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data WESTFÄLISCHE WILHELMS-UNIVERSITÄT MÜNSTER Germany EU contribution No data Address Schlossplatz 2 MÜNSTER See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data