Integrated Optical Nanoscopy

The aim of this proposal is to develop a close scientific collaboration between the University of Tromsø (UiT), Norway, and the University of Bielefeld (UBI), Germany. The scientific achievement will be the development and feasibility demonstration of opt ical super-resolution microscopy ( nanoscopy) on a waveguide-chip for live-cell imaging applications. The long-term goal is to kick-start a new area of chip-based, i.e. waveguide-based, optical nanoscopy (chip-based dSTORM, cd-STORM), which is presently b eing considered for a patent application. For feasibility studies fenestrations (pores of 50-200 nm diameter) in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) will be imaged, since they are believed to play a crucial role in controlling the lipoprotein (that carry cholesterol) metabolism and undergo significant structural changes while ageing. Even though these fenestrations are of extreme importance for human health, the small size of fenestrations has prohibited any functional analysis by light microscopy. This exchange grant will catalyse the proof-of-concept investigation of the proposed cd-STORM, prior to filling a patent application. The pioneering work on super-resolution microscopy techniques at UBI will be joined with the outstanding expertise on wa veguide chip design and fabrication techniques at UiT. The exchange grant will therefore be used for an intensive training of PhD students in these independent research fields at the forefront of future nanoscopy techniques. The proposed multiple-discipli nary project requires a near-unique expertise in the field of laser physics, integrated optics, advanced microscopy, and molecular cell biology that the participating universities have acquired. It is anticipated that by the end of this exchange programme we could be in position to apply for a larger scientific project within the EU-Horizon 2020 framework, HFSP, NFR (Norway), and DFG (Germany).