In the framework of this project, we have stabilized and led to patenting a new approach for super-resolution optical microscopy. This approach is based on the recording of large sets of images from a fluorescent sample, and on re-constructing a final image from this set of images. We have first measured the point-spread function, which formally defines the resolution of this method, and yields the global response of the apparatus. Images of standardized, 220 nm, fluorescent beads display a full width at half maximum of less than 300 nm. We successfully imaged at high resolution eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells containing various GFP- and YFP-tagged proteins, of dyed with classical fluorescent dyes, or displaying intrinsic fluorescence (in the case of photosynthetic organisms). Two-colours high resolution imaging was also performed on prokaryotic cells, with Sybergreen-stained nucleoid and YFP-tagged HU proteins.
On the basis of these results, a market study was performed by the company GeoAlliance, to analyse the commercialization potentialities of this new approach. It turns out that this study confirmed the potential economic interest of this new approach, in particular because of its extremely low cost and of its simplicity. Based on the results of this market study, a business models are currently being drawn, to determine the best strategy to drive this new approach to the market. In parallel, a prototype for industrialization is currently being constructed, including all the facilities necessary to perform super-resolution imaging and the proper software to make the method accessible to the widest possible audience, to attract investors.
