Sensing local biomolecular environments with coherent optical nanoscopy
Not stated
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
- Application deadline
- Year-round applications
About the project
About the Project The development of novel imaging tools and technologies, including super-resolution optical microscopy, has revolutionised our understanding of biology. Combining light microscopy with chemical sensing at the nanoscale in living cells holds the promise to unravel processes presently not accessible with existing techniques. For example, lipid nanodomains (rafts) are thought to have a key role in the way cytosolic membranes work in signalling and other important functions, and have attracted much attention in basic biology and disease research [1]. Although many experiments indicate their existence, lipid rafts remain controversial owing to their small size and the lack of suitable detection techniques in living cells. A related example is endocytosis, the process by which membrane lipids, proteins and extracellular content become internalised into the cell. There are several endocytic routes into the cell, each with a distinct protein machinery, cargos, and internalisation mechanisms [2]. Their characterization is crucial, beyond fundamental biology, for the design of drug delivery and therapeutic strategies. A combination of light microscopy with chemical sensing at the nanoscale would allow us to directly observe membrane lipid nanodomains in living cells and to define the localised biomolecular environment at single endocytic events occurring at the cell surface. The main aim of this project is to demonstrate and quantify the applicability of novel optical microscopy techniques beyond state-of-the-art for local biosensing of biomolecules directly within living cells. Specifically, the aim is to exploit a unique combination of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) [3] microscopy of endogenous biomolecules and Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) imaging of metallic nanoparticles [4]. The local field enhancement of CARS in the vicinity of a plasmonic nanoparticle will enable bio-sensing while the nanoparticle position is located with precision at the nanoscale by FWM [5]. A unique home-built CARS/FWM microscope is available in the supervisor’s laboratory [3-5], therefore the main emphasis of this project will be to push its applicability for sensing directly in living cells. Contact details for supervisor- Professor Paola Borri Email – BorriP@cardiff.ac.uk Phone Number - +44 29208 79356 How to apply: You can apply online - consideration is automatic on applying for a PhD in Biosciences. please ensure to provide a CV, statement of purpose, referee details at point of application. Please use our online application service at https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/programme/biosciences-phd-mphil-md Please specify that you are applying for this particular project, the supervisor and source of funding. Information on the application process can be found here http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/applying Entry requirements- Applicants should have obtained, or be about to obtain, a first or upper second-class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UKin a suitable subject (e.g. biophysics, biotechnology, biomedical optics or optics engineering). English Language- IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or equivalent. Please see our English Language Requirements guidance for more details.