Student research opportunities
Dual scanner adaptive video-rate multiphoton intravital endomicroscopy for live animal disease models
Project Code: CECS_893
This project is available at the following levels:
Engn4200, Engn R&D, Honours, Masters, PhD
Keywords:
Optics, Microscopy, Hardware Interface Programming, High Speed Digital Signal Processing,
Supervisor:
Dr Steve LeeOutline:
Intravital means the observation of cellular process found in a living subject. Modern intravital fluorescence microscopes have been used to study a variety of cellular-level processes in vivo, such as cell trafficking, intercellular interaction and vascular changes. However, owing to the large size of objective lenses required in these instruments, their applications have been limited mostly to superficial tissues, such as the skin, or to exposed internal organs. To overcome this constraint, endomicroscopy based on miniature optical probes has been developed, providing minimally invasive access to tissues in intact. The use of small-diameter probes using graded-index (GRIN) lenses expands the capabilities of conventional intravital microscopes to minimally invasive imaging of internal organs. In this project, we aim to deliver a new class of high performing endoscopic imaging using state of the art microlens technology. Furthermore, we seek to devise a dual scanner platform that can enable high speed video rate imaging with targeted point scanners. A large part of this work will be located at the Microscopy & Cytometry Resource Facility at JCSMR.
Goals of this project
• Design and fabrication of high resolution video rate endomicroscope imaging platform at microscope Facility at Curtin
• Miniature optical probe design
• Integration of optical probe into existing multiphoton laser system
Requirements/Prerequisites
• Basic knowledge is laser scanning microscopy
• Understanding basic mechanical design and optics
• Software programming of Visual C, Matlab or Labview will be preferred but not essential.
• Can work independently and motivated
Student Gain
- Hands-on experience with miniature probe design for bioimaging probes
- High speed Imaging processing for laser scanning microscopy.
- Perform cutting-edge biomedical imaging research using probe design.
Background Literature
• J. Kim, W. M. Lee, P. Kim, M. Choi, K. Jung, S. Kim, and S. Yun, "Fabrication and operation of GRIN probes for in vivo fluorescence cellular imaging of internal organs in small animals.," Nature Protocols 7, 1456–69 (2012).
