Development of a label-free imaging technique of biological tissue specimens with high spatial resolution beyond the conventional limitation

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H02626
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 30020:Optical engineering and photon science-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University (2020-2021); Nagoya University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Yamanaka Masahito 大阪大学, 工学研究科, 特任准教授(常勤) (90648221)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 深部イメージング / 高空間分解能 / 生体窓 / ラマン散乱 / 蛍光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, our research target is to develop a high spatial resolution imaging technique to allow us to observe the deep insides of thick biological specimens such as organoids and spheroids, which have similar morphologies to those of actual tissue specimens. For this purpose, we developed the low noise and high power laser source in the second and third near-infrared windows. Then we tackled developing a high-resolution stimulated Raman microscopy system with the developed laser source. In addition to the original purpose, we also found out that our laser source is also useful for other optical imaging modalities such as fluorescence microscopy and had a prospect of realizing a multimodal imaging technique to achieve multiple biological information simultaneously.

Free Research Field

応用計測光学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年、生命科学の研究において、生体組織に近い環境で作製されたオルガノイドやスフェロイドといった厚みのあるサンプルが盛んに用いられている。さらに、これらのサンプルは創薬などといった医学分野でも利用が広がっている。生体透過性の高い生体窓の光を用いたバイオイメージング技術の開発はこのようなサンプル内部を詳細な観察を可能とするもので、生命科学や医学分野の研究において有用な技術となりえる。