Fast Brillouin microscopy for phase transition

Project Information

FaBriCATion

Grant agreement ID: 101103038

DOI

10.3030/101103038

Project closed

EC signature date 21 April 2023

Start date 1 October 2023

End date 30 September 2025

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 188 590,08

Coordinated by

FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FaBriCATion (Fast Brillouin microscopy for phase transition)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2025-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, represent one of the most significant socio-economic challenges for the European Union's aging population. At the molecular level, these conditions are characterized by the liquid-to-solid phase transition of proteins (eg, Tau and TDP43), leading to the formation of pathological aggregates. While traditional biology focuses on chemical signaling, the FaBriCATion project was motivated by the urgent need to understand the mechanical biomarkers —specifically changes in viscoelasticity—that precede clinical symptoms.
The primary objective was to develop an advanced Brillouin microscopy platform capable of non-invasive, high-speed, and high-resolution mechanical mapping of living cells. The project's pathway to impact was designed to bridge the gap between optical engineering and clinical diagnosis. By providing a tool that can quantify the "stiffness" of protein condensates, the project aimed to provide pharmaceutical researchers with a new metric for drug efficacy. In the strategic context of the European Research Area (ERA) , this project sought to reinforce Europe's leadership in biophotonics by creating a robust infrastructure that could be shared across multidisciplinary research groups.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project executed a rigorous program of optical development and biological validation, resulting in several key scientific outcomes:

Deep Investigation of Coherent Detection: We conducted a systematic study of heterodyne Brillouin detection. Our research identified fundamental Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) limits at bio-safe power levels, providing the community with a definitive framework for the feasibility of high-speed coherent sensing in living cells.

Engineering of an Ultra-Stable EOM Platform: To address the industry-wide problem of spectral drift, we successfully integrated an Electro-Optic Modulator (EOM) into a 780nm Brillouin microscope. We developed a custom closed-loop control system that achieved record-breaking instrumental stability (>50 hours), enabling long-term observations that were previously impossible.

Biological Discovery (Tau Protein): Using this stabilized platform, we performed mechanical mapping of Tau protein phase transitions in living SK-N-BE neuroblastoma cells. We successfully documented the mechanical hardening of protein droplets over time, correlating these shifts with molecular mobility data obtained through integrated FRAP (Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching) .

Infrastructure Sharing: The system's robustness allowed us to provide transnational access to three international research groups, validating the technology's utility for diverse biological models beyond the original scope.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The results of the FaBriCATion project have pushed the boundaries of biophotonics in several dimensions:
Beyond State-of-the-Art Stability: Before this project, VIPA-based Brillouin spectrometers typically required recalibration every few hours. Our EOM-stabilized architecture represents a paradigm shift, offering a "set-and-forget" capability that is essential for high-throughput screening and long-term live-cell imaging.
Fundamental SNR Insights: Our deep study into heterodyne detection corrected common misconceptions in the field regarding the speed-power trade-off, setting a new standard for how researchers should design coherent Brillouin systems.
Potential Impacts and Future Uptake:
Clinical Diagnostics: The ability to map mechanical shifts in proteins opens a pathway for early-stage biomarker detection in neurodegenerative research.
Market Readiness: Reaching TRL 4/5 , the EOM-stabilized setup is a prime candidate for commercialization or integration into existing commercial confocal microscopes.
Future Needs: To ensure further success, the next steps include a larger-scale internationalization of the protocol and the development of standardized "mechanical phantoms" for cross-laboratory calibration.
The project has not only delivered a superior imaging tool but has also established a FAIR-compliant data repository and open-source code library, ensuring the long-term reproducibility and scientific uptake of these innovations within the global biophysics community.