Subcellular and in-vivo Nano-Endoscopy.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Subcellular analysis is crucial for disease research and drug discovery.
• Existing nanoscale endoscopes face fabrication complexity and low signal efficiency.
• Need for advanced tools for minimally invasive intracellular probing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel nanoendoscope for localized fluorescence excitation and signal collection.
• To demonstrate sub-organelle level imaging and spectral analysis.
• To overcome limitations of previous nanoscale endoscopic instruments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulations for optimizing nanoendoscope taper profile.
• Fabricated and inserted the nanoendoscope into living cells and a nematode organism.
• Collected fluorescent signals from labeled organelles (nucleus, mitochondria) and within Caenorhabditis elegans.

Main Results:

• Achieved localized light emission and collection within ~100 nm using optimized nanoendoscope design.
• Successfully collected fluorescence signals from the nucleus of human fibroblasts and liver cells.
• Demonstrated signal collection from mitochondria in MDA-MB-231 cells and within a live Caenorhabditis elegans organism.
• Confirmed in vivo, local fluorescence signal collection on the sub-organelle level.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanoendoscope enables efficient, localized fluorescence signal collection at the sub-organelle level.
• This technology offers a powerful new tool for in vivo cellular and organismal imaging.
• Represents a significant advancement for minimally invasive nanoscale diagnostics and research.