'Scanning' and wide field microscopy of (bio) organic systems (R-3774)

The research community 'scanning' and broadfield microscopy of (bio) organic systems, that in addition to two groups at KULeuven, a group at Ghent University and a group of UHasselt, include seven foreign groups, will develop a state of the art range of microscopy techniques following priorities. 1) Optical microscopy techniques with a resolution below the diffraction limit based on STED (stimulated emission depletion microscopy) and S-PALM (stroboscopic photo assets table localization microscopy) 2) New artifact free fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) techniques which allow to obtain quantitative information such as '2-foci FC ',' lifetime FCS 'and' raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) 3) The combination of optical techniques with scanning probe techniques with emphasis on' tip-enhanced "Raman spectroscopy with high spatial resolution. These techniques will be combined with the existing techniques to study the following topics from biosciences and nanotechnology: a) Transportation and function of biomolecules in cell membranes with a focus on lateral organization in the cell membranes (rafts), and oliogendrocyten signal transduction by photoreceptors b) The intracellular dynamics of cure complexes. With FRAP (Flouresence Recovery After Photobleaching), FCS, HROM and Single Particle Tracking (SPT) c) Investigation of planning / reactivity in monolayers at the liquid / solid interface using scanning tunneling microscopy. The effect of molecular chirality on the structure, symmetry and properties of the monolayers and the manipulation of these monolayers under potential control via the (electrochemical) STM will be investigated. Also, there will be an investigation at supramolecular gels and catalytic reactions within these gels with optical microscopy and Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) d) Investigation of the dynamics of polymer films doped with small probe molecules and fluorescently labeled single polymer chains 'in solutions and in the melt by using single molecule techniques, SPM and HROM. Study of the structure and electro-optical properties of polymer blends at submicron scale. Exploration of Raman Microscopy for new conjugated polymers.

Keywords:microscopy techniques

Disciplines:Electrical and electronic engineering, (Bio)medical engineering, Computer engineering, information technology and mathematical engineering, Basic sciences, Clinical sciences, Translational sciences

Project type:Collaboration project