| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/S75918/01 |
| Title: |
Mesoscale near-field infrared microspectroscopy & its use for characterising sub-cellular detail |
| Principal Investigator: |
Pollock, Dr H |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
Lancaster University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 January 2004 |
Ends: |
31 October 2006 |
Value (£): |
386,876
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Chemical Biology |
Med.Instrument.Device& Equip. |
| Medical science & disease |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Our aim is to develop fast measurement time instrumentation to achieve mid-IR microspectroscopy at sub-micron spatial resolution, aiming at100 nm or better. Implementation will be based on near-field principles, scanning probe microscopy technology and Fourier transform infrared instrumentation. The required signal to noise ratios will be achieved by the use of a synchrotron infrared light, with its high brightness and small effective source size. Our proposed approach will greatly exceed the diffraction-limited resolution achieved by today's state of the art FTIR microscopes. It is also more powerful than narrow bandwidth near-field methods, which lack full mid IR fingerprinting capability. A subwavelength spatial resolution capability will very significantly widen the range of possible applications of IR spectroscopy to problems within the physical and life sciences. A powerful motive for this project will be the establishment of a database of biomolecular changes in cells. These premalignant markers could subsequently be used in the early diagnosis of cancer associated with breast and prostate cancer. Although there is now a large body of reports on the use of FTIR microspectroscopy for the characterisation of cancerous changes in cells, they are based on the use of conventional optics. Performing IR measurements on selected areas of individual cells with mesoscopic scale spatial resolution will be unique and very powerful.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.lancs.ac.uk |