Multifunctional 2-photon-microscope

• Subject Area: Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: Funded in 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 408227957

At the University of Hamburg a new center for nanoscience (CHyN) is currently established. This center is connected with a master class about nanotechnology. The requested instrument will be a central piece of equipment for the research group of Prof. W. Parak. The interaction of nanoparticles with cells will be investigated. The requested multifunctional 2-photon microscope will be employed in this direction in several different ways: 1) Adsorption of proteins to nanoparticles plays a pivotal role in their uptake by cells. With the integrated fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) part quantitative particle characterization towards protein corona formation will be investigated. 2) Particles are incorporated by cells via different endocytic pathways. Uptake can be quantified quantitatively by using fluorescence labeled particles and confocal microscopy for imaging the fluorescence of cells with internalized particles. While there is work about the uptake of particles by cell cultures available, data on tissue cultures are scarce. To use quantitative analysis for tissue 2-photon excitation is required in order to minimize the problem of light scattering by tissue leading to reduced penetration depth. 3) Long-term measurements will be carried out with the integrated cell incubator.4) Incorporated particles may be degrade by cells. Using "superresolution" approaches the different components of the particles (cores, shells, proteins) may be observed.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Multifunctional 2-photon-microscope
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Universität Hamburg
• Leader: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Parak