Descripción del proyecto
Un chip fotónico permite una nanoscopía de alto rendimiento y superresolución
La nanoscopía, una combinación de técnicas que permite la adquisición de imágenes de moléculas individuales con microscopios ópticos, ganó el Premio Nobel de Química de 2014. Sin embargo, a pesar de su prometedor potencial, la complejidad del sistema, su alto coste y bajo rendimiento son los principales obstáculos que impiden que la nanoscopía tenga un impacto mayor. El proyecto ChipNano, financiado con fondos europeos, está ampliando trabajos previos sobre la nanoscopía óptica basada en un chip fotónico compacto. Este nuevo método puede multiplicar por cien el rendimiento. La muestra se coloca en la parte superior de un chip fotónico, capaz de iluminar y sostener la muestra, lo que permite a los científicos adquirir imágenes de alta resolución. Los chips fotónicos se pueden retroadaptar a los actuales microscopios ópticos comunes, convirtiéndolos en nanoscopios de alta resolución. El objetivo general es acercar la tecnología al mercado.
Objetivo
The invention of optical nanoscopy is about to revolutionize several disciplines and it was awarded with a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2014. It is widely believed that a majority of existing optical microscopes will be replaced by an optical nanoscope. Unfortunately, the potential of the such a revolution and its widespread adoption are severely obstructed due to limitations of present day nanoscopy solution, i.e. system complexity, high cost and low throughput. In my ERC project, I have developed compact photonic chip-based optical nanoscopy, that can increase the throughput of convention optical nanoscopy by a factor of 100 times. The sample is placed on top of a photonic chip, capable of both holding and illuminating the sample, enabling to acquire super-resolved images. Photonic-chips can be retrofitted to an existing standard optical microscope converting it to high-resolution nanoscope. By way of analogy, moving from current super-resolution microscopy to chip-based nanoscopy will be as transformational as the move from main-frame computers to mobile phones. This is indeed a disruptive technology enabling widespread penetration of affordable chip-based optical nanoscopes. In ChipNano, the overall aim here is to bring the technology closer to the market by making the invention more commercially viable by a) co-operating and possibly setting-up business contract with the industrial partners on chip-production b) obtaining user feedback from key opinion leaders in Europe; c) consolidating business case to attract long-term venture funding in close cooperation with a university spin-off.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-POC-LS - ERC Proof of Concept Lump Sum PilotInstitución de acogida
9019 Tromso
Noruega