Next generation bio-imaging technology

Exeter has developed a unique repertoire of advance bio-imaging techniques that are used interchangeably across disciplines, such as electron microscopy, nonlinear microscopy, Raman microspectrometry and derivative applications such as Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. 

CARS

CARS microscopy is a state-of-the-art laser imaging technique that complements conventional microscopy. CARS research at Exeter leads the field in the UK and is recognised internationally as a novel enabling technology. Uniquely, Exeter is applying CARS to solve ‘real’ biological problems and the success of such multidisciplinary interactions means the CARS laboratory is heavily oversubscribed with both physical and life sciences projects.

The CARS facility and additional non-linear microscopy applications will be applied in the new centre to dedicated biophysical and biomedical research problems such as addressing the properties of cells and their extracellular matrix in model systems such as red cells and endothelial cells.

Live Cell Imaging

Paramount to understanding the flexible and highly dynamic environment of a living cell is the ability to capture the position of a particular protein in time and space. Similar to our competitive position with CARS, Live Cell Imaging developed in the Steinberg laboratory at Exeter is world-leading and provides quantitative information, spatial and temporal co-ordinates that are needed to inform mathematical modelling, adding a new dimension to our understanding of living cellular Systems.

Modern transmission electron microscopy also offers the unique and complementary capability for the study of materials in different forms, including living cells, in minute detail that even approaches atomics using unique cryogenic techniques that preserve spatial information of sub-cellular components. The detailed spatial compositional features and the precise morphological characteristics of cells can be appraised and scrutinised using advanced electron microscopy and 3-D tomography which has been used to study the photonic properties of biological structures and which can be applied in the development of cell-based models.

Traditional “real-time” confocal microscopy, CARS, advanced live cell imaging, nonlinear and electron microscopy will be integrated into a single facility to provide unique imaging opportunities, which when combined with advanced image processing and analytical facilities, will play a key role in systems biology research.