Versatile Resolution Targets for Optical Nano- and Microscopes

Microscopes are the windows to everything small in our world and have led to the greatest of discoveries today. Microscopes have become an indispensable part of pharmaceutical industry, hospitals, life sciences, material sciences, and even in education. With advancements in microscopy, we can see even smaller, up to tens of nanometres. But the smaller we go, the blurrier the line between what we see and what is true. Hence, we need resolution references to calibrate the fidelity of our curious observations. These are called resolution targets. With the growing demands on microscopy functions, additional features and more specialized resolution targets are needed. It is necessary to have a target that resolves not only resolution but also other key optical features like refractive index (RI) and fluorescence. Our first-of-a-kind resolution targets can characterize and calibrate multiple optical nano/microscopes, and are the first such tool to support a range of RI. Our main objective going forward is to develop a product portfolio and functional prototypes encompassing different refractive indices and fluorescence characteristics, necessitating extensive laboratory optimization. We will also consolidate the commercial strategy for the project to ensure the transformative capabilities of our resolution targets are brought to the forefront of scientific innovation. Development of our resolution targets until now has focused on demonstrating proof of concept for resolution and RI characterization capabilities and the incorporation of fluorescent properties. There has also been a focus on speaking to industry and end users to determine the priority areas for ongoing development and opportunities in the current market. This preliminary work has positioned the technology for the next stages of development towards a commercial product during the coming project period. Our targets are a promising technology to enhance optical microscope performance, thereby improving our understanding of the nanoscopic world. As we push the boundaries of our visual capabilities, these tools will be pivotal in ensuring the clarity and accuracy of our scientific endeavors.

The outcomes of this Qualification project will help build the foundation for a pathway to commercialisation that will be pursued in the short-medium term. The broader impact in the long term lies in the potential to standardize the way that micro and nanoscopes are calibrated, providing reliable and reproducible tools for microscopy manufacturers and end-users in life sciences, materials science, education and more.