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3D Nanoscope: a highly accessible, high-performance device for live cell nanoscopy

Project description

Advancing live-cell microscopy

Imaging live cells is essential for understanding dynamic biological processes. However, conventional high-resolution microscopy methods are too slow for real-time studies and often cause damage to the cells due to phototoxicity. Researchers need advanced methods for overcoming these limitations that would also enable the investigation of structural analysis at nanometre resolution. The EU-funded 3DNanoScope4All project aims to develop a high-performance nanoscope that integrates different microscopy technologies including light-field microscopy. This novel system, which will enable 3D and structural imaging of live cells while preserving their integrity, will be applied to the study of interactions between proteins and cell membranes in different contexts.

Objective

Contemporary optical microscopy techniques are capable of imaging sub-wavelength (<400nm) structures. However, challenges such as phototoxicity, slow acquisition speeds, and difficulties in extending to 3D imaging have hindered their widespread adoption in live-cell studies. Light field microscopy (LFM) allows 3D imaging of biological samples with a single snapshot, reducing phototoxicity and allowing fast imaging of whole live cells. Recent breakthroughs have demonstrated single-molecule LFM with sub-100nm resolution, offering a straightforward optical design that holds immense promise for integrating complementary methods to study real-time dynamics in live cells without causing damage.

3DNanoScope4All will develop and formalise a highly accessible, high-performance device for live cell nanoscopy. For that, three novel, yet robust, techniques will be merged in a single device: (i) LFM as the core technique, (ii) 3D-SRRF, facilitating high-resolution, rapid measurements and (iii) single-molecule orientation microscopy, providing spectroscopic insights into 3D molecular order. The combination of these cutting-edge technologies will enable both structural and dynamic measurements of live cells in a powerful yet affordable device.

After validation, this nanoscope will be used to reveal previously poorly understood processes involved in the dynamics between viral particles (120nm) and cell membrane interactions during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. These advancements will not only broaden the current understanding of HIV infection but also pave the way for future research based on super-resolution microscopy techniques applied to other host-pathogen interactions.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-TALENTS-02

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Coordinator

FUNDACAO GIMM - GULBENKIAN INSTITUTE FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE
Net EU contribution
€ 127 382,58
Address
AVENIDA PROFESSOR EGAS MONIZ
1649-035 LISBOA
Portugal
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost
No data

Participants (1)

Partners (2)