Descrizione del progetto
Nanovettori per il bioimaging funzionale e strutturale in 3D
La microscopia multifotonica permette di visualizzare in 3D sezioni estese di tessuti biologici per capire la relazione tra la loro struttura e la loro funzione, e si traduce in applicazioni nel campo della biomedicina e della somministrazione di farmaci. Il progetto Micro4Nano, finanziato dall’UE, mira a sviluppare metodi per la visualizzazione in 3D fino a 1 mm di profondità, unendo l’imaging iperspettrale di specie autofluorescenti a informazioni strutturali provenienti da segnali di generazione di seconda armonica ed etichette fluorescenti multifunzionali, nonché a informazioni chimiche ricavate mediante microscopia Raman. Sarà progettata una nuova generazione di nanovettori multifunzionali per la microscopia a due fotoni e la somministrazione di farmaci che permetterà di monitorare cellule e tessuti viventi in tempo reale. Il programma di formazione nell’ambito della rete del progetto offre opportunità di sviluppo professionale rivolte agli scienziati che sono all’inizio della carriera e promuove la collaborazione interdisciplinare tra le organizzazioni partecipanti.
Obiettivo
The direct 3D visualization of large sections of biological tissues, made possible by multiphoton microscopy, has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the relation between the structure and function of biological tissues, opening the way to impressive applications in biomedicine and drug delivery, in phytotherapy, and agricultural and food industries. In an ambitious multidisciplinary effort, Micro4Nano will develop new approaches and methods towards the 3D visualization of biological tissues, up to 1 mm in depth, combining hyperspectral imaging of autofluorescent species, with structural information from second-harmonic generation signals, functional information from multifunctional fluorescent labels and chemical information from Raman microscopy. A new generation of multifunctional nanocarriers for two-photon microscopy and drug delivery will be designed and extensively exploited towards real-time monitoring of living cells and tissues. In an intersectoral endeavour, microscopy will be combined with microfluidics to investigate the tissue behaviour under controlled perfusion conditions. Micro4Nano promotes international and multidisciplinary collaborations between experts in complementary fields, including microscopy, drug delivery, spectroscopy, chemical synthesis, theoretical and computational chemistry. The collaboration is implemented through 50 secondments (173 person month) of early-stage and experienced researchers, the organization of three network-wide events and a rich and coherent program of training activities. The network promotes an effective integrate training of researchers, boosting their career development, and promotes enhanced collaboration schemes between participant organizations. The direct involvement of industrial partners guarantees the timely exploitation of original results from advanced research laboratories towards innovative products and services.
Campo scientifico
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-RISE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE)Coordinatore
43121 PARMA
Italia