Project to Develop a Super Microscope

A new biophotonics workstation encompassing a super microscope, designed to help develop technology for the early diagnosis and treatment of a range of illnesses, is being developed by scientists at the University of St. Andrews (Scotland), under a U.S.$1.4 million grant.

The new microscope will allow scientists to image, sort, separate, and punch holes into cells as small as 1/100th of a mm. Leading academics at the university will join in conducting research on physics, cancer, and neurobiology. Leading the project is Professor Kishan Dholakia, head of the Optical Trapping Group at the School of Physics and Astronomy, who is pioneering a number of cell-based research techniques based on light.

The workstation will take two years to assemble. It will be built around a microscope from Nikon Corp. (Tokyo, Japan), will use compact lasers, and will combine the latest advances in optics with new cutting-edge biology. The workstation will offer a large range of functions in a single tool. The scientists estimate the workstation will be the size of a 20-inch television set, but they say they could develop smaller versions, depending on commercial interest.

"Since all of the functions can be done in one room and on one system, our cell samples involved in Alzheimer's disease or cancer don't have to be moved; thus minimizing the possibility of contamination and ensuring the stability of tissue,” explained Dr. Frank Gunn-Moore, a neurobiologist at St. Andrews.

Prof. Dholakia noted that if the initial microscope is a success, the team might build microscopes for other research organizations or medical diagnostics companies.




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