High resolution plasmonic microscopy for cellular imaging – BIOPLASMOSCOPE

This project relates to a method for imaging biological compounds using a non intrusive high resolution surface plasmon resonance microscopy method that we refer to by ``BIOPLASMOSCOPE''.

Imaging biological objects in liquid media, from nanoscale to microscale is a key issue of current research in molecular biology. Most approaches developed in the last decades are intrusive, and often require labelling of molecular compounds by fluorescent probes, these probes are not always photostable, and they may also alter the molecular structure of the biological complexes (proteins, DNA, …) they are linked to. The range of scale offered by these fluorescence microscopies is often limited, they are mainly used to detect the presence and/or the colocalization of different molecular elements in cellular media thanks to their fluorescent signature.
We propose a different approach. Thanks to our expertise in surface plasmon microscopy, developed both experimentally and theoretically, with the building of an original apparatus called the scanning surface plasmon microscope (SSPM), we propose to extend the ability of this microscope for imaging and detecting nanoscale to microscale objects from visible to infra-red wavelengths. This type of microscopy is completely original, therefore both fundamental and applied research will be necessary.

This project is divided in two complementary tasks. On the one side the construction of a commercial prototype, taking advantage of the two laboratory devices that we have built in the past five year. The specifications of this prototype will be elaborated from our discussion with both industrial designers and researchers, to meet both scientific and technical criteria which make this microscope suited for cellular imaging. This prototype will increase our impact in our discussions with industrial companies and will allow us to license our patents more efficiently. On the other side, we will work actively with the valorization structure (ENS Lyon and LST) to expand our list of industrial companies and laboratories (microscopy and surface plasmon) to elaborate a marketing prospection for the development of this technique in the next four years. We will also work with the valorization structure to transfer our expertise, protect our invention, identify and quantify risk elements and promote the originality and attractivity of the BIOPLASMOSCOPE.

These two tasks require different skills and ENS Lyon (TTO) and University of Lyon (LST) provide us a very favorable environment. Indeed, this requires a strong interaction in between the scientists, researchers and the persons in charge of the valorization. The fact of all the participants of this project have already worked together in the past four years is a strong advantage and a warranty of the success of this project.