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NANO2021-Nanoteknologi, nanovitenskap, mikroteknologi og avanserte materialer

Integrated photonic chip-based nanoscopy for pathology & the clinic

Alternative title: Integrert fotonisk chip-basert nanoskopi for patologi og klinikker

Awarded: NOK 10.0 mill.

The aim of Nano2021 project is to develop advanced optical microscopy using photonic-chip for application in life sciences and in histopathology. The high contrast, superior resolution and non-invasive aspect makes optical microscopy indispensable technology. The project has successfully demonstrated super-resolution imaging of the pathology samples using proposed photonic-chip based optical microscopy platform. During the project we have installed a prototype for 1 year long user testing in Radium hospital. The team has demonstrated that the photonic-chip is compatible with the standard histology methodologies and enables super-resolved and super contrast imaging of the pathology samples. Post-project, it is recommended to perform additional pilot projects focused on applications such as within cancer and Nephropathy disease where this technology will have a bigger impact. Training of young researchers was an imperative part of this project. All three post-docs hired in this project have all translated successfully in their career path, one received FRIPRO Young, second received MSCA-IF (at UiT Norway) and the third secured academic position within Europe. The young researchers will continue to make cross disciplinary innovations within microscopy developments for biological applications. In addition, another invention on label-free 3D quantitative phase microscopy designed for thick samples (tissues) have been created during the project and the invention is being protected via a patent application.

The project has opened new application segment (histology) for the innovative photonic-chip based microscopy platform that was invented at UiT. This initial results from the project helped us to aim for large innovative project from EU: European Innovation Council -Transition Project which was successfully granted in 2022 to us. One of the WPs of that project is to further explore photonic-chip based microscopy for histology application. The "compatibility" of the photonic-chip with relatively harsh chemical sample preparation method in histology is demonstrated. This is imperative as it is pre-requirement to use this technology within pathology market. We will continue to explore the possibilities of attracting funding to continuing the "pilot" project within cancer and kidney diseases. Several research articles have been published and 3 post-doc hired in this project have all translated successfully in their career path, one received FRIPRO Young, second received MSCA-IF (in Norway) and the third secured academic position within Europe. Training of young people was an imperative part of this project. Similarly, a new invention on 3D label-free quantitative phase microscopy platform has been made and being explored for patent.

Present super resolution High-resolution microscopy (nanoscopy) uses a simple glass slide to hold the sample but a complex and expensive microscope (nanoscope) setup to illuminate the sample. We have recently proposed a paradigm shift in nanoscopy by replacing the glass slide with a nanoscale photonic integrated chip (PIC) capable of both holding and illuminating the sample. Thus, it substitutes the nanoscope with inexpensive standard microscope while supporting high-throughput super resolved imaging. As a consequence, pre-clinical research labs and clinical diagnostic labs can transform into super-resolved imaging facilities by simply retrofitting any standard fluorescence microscope with our novel PIC technology. Within the Nano-Chip proposal, we propose to enhance the penetration of our chip-based nanoscopy platform towards clinical application by addressing the key-pain points relevant for this market, i.e. a) high-throughput and b) development of multi-modality imaging platform. This is the foundation of our long-term vision: widespread usage of affordable, multi-modality and high-throughput chip-based nanoscopes. Nano-Chip actively involves stakeholder (Radiumhospitalet), where Nano-Chip platform will be user-tested for 1-year long pilot studies at Radiumhospitalet for the pathology applications. This proposal therefore meets the guidelines and principles for Nano2021 and Responsible Research Innovation. Nano-Chip offers a unique opportunity for Norway to gain an important advantage in developing a coherent research community around PIC-based nanoscopy. The chip-based nanoscopy is new research direction that was kick-started at UiT, Norway and is gaining international visibility and attracting significant interest from industries.

Publications from Cristin

Funding scheme:

NANO2021-Nanoteknologi, nanovitenskap, mikroteknologi og avanserte materialer