Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope

• Subject Area: Materials Science
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 549121337

For the high-resolution structural characterization of 3D microprinted biomaterials, a confocal laser scanning microscope is requested. This microscope will serve as a central device for the characterization of 3D printed bio-microstructures within the NanoFab Center at the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM). The research area "Engineering Molecular Systems" newly established by Heidelberg University will be then further focused and deepened through the design of novel 3D microprintable biomaterials, as well as their applications in medicine, cell biology, and microfluidics. In this context, relevant material classes are synthetic biomaterials as well as materials with integrated living systems (cells, tissues, etc.). These materials require an aqueous medium to maintain their structural properties and final functionality. The resulting optical similarity of the investigated materials - containing high amounts of water - to the aqueous environment prevent the investigation of the biomaterial microstructures using standard optical microscopy. In contrast, confocal laser scanning microscopy, with integrated differential interference contrast (DIC) and two simultaneous detector channels, allows the rapid location of the printed microstructures on the substrate, as well as their 3D imaging. In addition, it is also possible to record dynamic processes of "active" i.e., responsive biomaterial structures - including light-responsive systems. Furthermore, it is planned to install the confocal microscope in the same room, a S1 bio-laboratory, to the parallel requested 3D bio-microfabrication system. This enables the direct investigation of 3D microstructures in parallel to screening and optimization of the 3D bio-microfabrication process. This avoids changes of the biological material due to transport routes between fabrication and structural characterization, preventing unnecessary delays in project completion. It will also permit to work with living systems (e.g. cells). The NanoFab Center does not currently offer a suitable imaging technique for biomaterials including integrated living systems, which drastically limits or even excludes research on these kinds of materials. Therefore, the proposed instrument will be embedded as a multi-user device within the framework of the NanoFab Center to enable 3D imaging directly after fabrication.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Konfokales Laser-Scanning-Mikroskop
• Instrumentation Group: 5090 Spezialmikroskope
• Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Leader: Professorin Eva Blasco, Ph.D.