Project description
Advanced optical absorption microscopy
Optical absorption microscopy is a technique that measures the light absorbed by a sample at microscopic level. It leverages the principle that different materials absorb light at specific wavelengths and can be used to identify the composition, structure, and properties of a sample. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the IONR project aims to advance optical absorption microscopy for single-molecule analysis. Researchers propose an innovative design capable of detecting single-molecule events from heterogeneous samples like airborne particles and proteins. The device is expected to find a variety of applications such as environmental monitoring and early diagnostics.
Objective
Optical absorption microscopy based on the photothermal heating effect has recently succeeded in detecting single molecules with a temperature-sensitive nanomechanical resonator. Molecules are sampled onto the nanomechanical resonator and probed with a free-space laser. Upon scanning, optical absorption and photothermal heating of the sample results in a detectable detuning in the mechanical resonance frequency. This technique has overcome the main limitations of alternative optical probing methods. A remaining challenge of nanomechanical photothermal microscopy is the alignment of the free-space optics with the intersecting molecular sample beam necessary to perform time-resolved single-molecule spectroscopy. Furthermore, off-plane optics limits its possibility to be miniaturized. Integrating NIR/MIR waveguides in nanomechanical resonators will create an innovative optomechanical device that solves the alignment problem, increases the field of view, decreases optical complexity, and enables photothermal spectroscopy miniaturization avoiding absorption spectroscopy limitations (i.e.Fabry-Perot resonances, outcoupling, and propagation losses). We propose to give the first steps towards a complete integrated photothermal spectroscopic device for single-molecule analysis dispensing with free-space optics. In the envisioned design, the probing light travels inside the nanomechanical resonator, orthogonal to the sample beam, resulting in an evanescent interaction with the sample molecules on the surface. This design will enable the detection of single-molecule deposition events from heterogenous samples, in particular, airborne particles and proteins in solution will be the target analyte due to its environmental and health relevance. Furthermore, the selectivity provided by the spectroscopic measurement allows for identifying and monitoring neoplastic, while the device holds potential use for early diagnostics.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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1040 Wien
Austria
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