Heather Hobbs


MICROSCOPY& MICROTECHNIQUES


Microscope Potential for Examining a Live Virus


University of Manchester scientists have created the world’s most powerful optical microscope, which shatters the record for the smallest object the eye can see, breaking the theoretical limit of optical microscopes.


Previously, the standard optical microscope can only see items around one micrometre – 0.001 millimetres – clearly. But now, by combining an optical microscope with a transparent microsphere, dubbed the ‘microsphere nanoscope’, the Manchester researchers from the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, can see 20 times smaller – 50 nanometres (5 x 10-8m) – under normal lights.


This hugely-increased capacity means the scientists, led by Professor Lin Li and Dr Zengbo Wang, believe this could potentially offer the first tool with the capability to visualise a live virus on the inside of a human cell and which can also be used to detect far smaller images in the future.


The new nano-imaging system is based on capturing optical, near-field virtual images, which are free from optical diffraction and amplifying them using a microsphere, a tiny spherical particle which is further relayed and amplified by a standard optical microscope.


Professor Li, who initiated and led the research in collaboration with academics at the National University and Data Storage Institute of Singapore, believes their research could prove to be an important development:


“This is a world record in terms of how small an optical microscope can go by direct imaging under a light source covering the whole range of optical spectrum. Not only have we been able to see items of 50 nanometres, we believe that is just the start and we will be able to see far smaller items. Theoretically, there is no limit on how small an object we will be able to see.


“The common way of seeing tiny items presently is with an electron microscope, and even then you cannot see inside a cell – only the outside. Optical fluoresce microscopes can see inside the cells indirectly by dying them, but these dyes cannot penetrate viruses. Seeing inside a cell directly without dying and seeing living viruses directly could revolutionise the way cells are studied and allow us to examine closely viruses and biomedicine for the first time,” he added.


Among other tiny objects the scientists will be able to examine are anodised aluminum oxide nano-structures, and nano-patterns on Blue-Ray CVC disks, not previously visible with an optical microscope.


See full report in Nature Communications Wellcome Image Awards 2011


Winners of the Wellcome Image Awards 2011, (presented 23rd February) have used techniques ranging from clinical photography to brain tractography to capture the wonder of medicine and the life sciences in all of their glorious splendour. The selected images are on display at Wellcome Collection until July 2011. Each image is accompanied by 'the story behind the picture', to explain how it was created, what it adds to scientific understanding and why the judges felt it stands out. Selected images can also be seen on the website, Wellcome Images.


Catherine Draycott, Head of Wellcome Images, added: "It's easy to forget that behind each of these intriguing images is a complex story of scientific pursuit. We search out hundreds of images from working scientists and artists each year and the awards offer a superb opportunity for people to find out about the cutting-edge science and the people behind the pictures."


Figure 1. (above) Experimental configuration of white light microsphere nanoscope with /8 - /14 imaging resolution. Schematic of the transmission mode microsphere superlens integrated with a classical optical microscope. The spheres collect the near-field object information and form virtual images that can be captured by the conventional lens.


Figure 2. (above) Microsphere superlens imaging in transmission mode. a, Microsphere superlens imaging of 360-nm-wide lines spaced 130 nm apart (top left image), the optical nanoscope (ON) image (top right image) shows the lines are clearly resolved. b, a gold-coated fishnet anodic alµminiµm oxide (AAO) sample imaged with microspheres (a = 2.37 µm, borders of two spheres are shown by white lines) superlens. The nanoscope clearly resolves the pores which are 50 nm in diameter and spaced 50 nm apart (bottom left image). The size of the optical image between the pores within the image plane is 410 nm (bottom right). It corresponds to a magnification factor of.


Figure 3. (left) Microsphere nanoscope reflection mode imaging. a, Microsphere superlens reflection mode imaging of a commercial Blu-ray DVD disk. The 100-m-thick transparent protection layer of the disk was peeled off before applying the microsphere (a = 2.37 m). The sub-diffraction-limited lines are resolved by the microsphere superlens. b, Reflection mode imaging of a star structure made on GeSbTe DVD disk. The complex shape of the star including 90-nm corner was clearly imaged.


TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. JPK Opens Office in France


JPK Instruments, a world-leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instrumentation for research in life sciences and soft materials, has opened their first sales offices in France to support their growing user base. The company has appointed Dr Anne Duprat as Sales Manager to run the offices in the rue de Rennes in the centre of Paris.


Dr Duprat comes with extensive experience in world of scanning probe microscopy, SPM. She graduated with a first degree in cellular and molecular biology from Luminy Marseilles University before completing her PhD in the CEA of Cadarache. Her research focused on translation initiation. She also held a post doctoral position in molecular biology and genetics at CNB Madrid.


Dr Gerd Behme, JPK's General Sales Manage, commented: "Having worked with Anne as a member of our former distributors, LOT-Oriel, I know that she will bring excellent experience of the needs of customers in France. The French market for nanotechnology solutions in the life sciences continues to grow and we realise it was time to open our own offices to be more responsive to local needs."


TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. EMAG 2011


(Above) Pyramidal neurons. Michael Häusser and Hermann Cuntz, UCL/Wellcome Images This computer simulated image shows synthetic pyramidal neurons, of optimised size, shape and connectivity, that are


indistinguishable from those found in the real biological brain. Pyramidal cells are so-called as they have a pyramid-shaped cell body (soma), and are also characterised by long branching dendrites. They are found in the forebrain (cortex and hippocampus) of mammals and are thought to be involved in cognitive function.


(Above) Ruby-tailed wasp. Spike Walker/Wellcome Images. This photomicrograph shows an adult ruby-tailed wasp curled into a ball. Chrysis ignita is the most commonly observed of several species of the ruby-tailed wasp. The wasp was lit with two electronic flashes while imaging to highlight the natural iridescent colours on its body.


The Electron Microscopy & Analysis Group's bienniel Conference has established a strong reputation as a key event in the calendars of the national & international microscopy communities. This year EMAG 2011 will continue this tradition in Birmingham, (6-9 September) a city well known for its materials-based industries. The central location of Birmingham means that EMAG 2011 will be easily accessible for day visitors as well as for delegates attending the whole conference and the Advanced School. A high quality Trade Exhibition, which is at the heart of a EMAG conference, will build on the success of the Exhibition at Sheffield in 2009 with a mixture of exhibits and technical workshops. These will enable delegates to interact with vendors and witness the latest developments in microscopy and nanotechnology.


(Right) Moth wing scales. Kevin Mackenzie, University of Aberdeen/Wellcome Images. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the scales on the wing of a Madagascan moon moth, Argema mittrei. This moth is also known as the Comet moth, after its very long tail. The tail span is 15 cm and wing span 20 cm, making it one of the world's largest silk moths.


TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. 192


The scientific themes of EMAG 2011 will be addressed through invited and contributed oral and poster presentations. One of the principal features of the conference is the opportunity it gives to young researchers to present their work through both the symposia and the poster sessions. There will be prizes for the best student contributions. The Advanced School on Chemical Nanoanalysis will be held on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 September to enable young researchers to expand their knowledge in a key subject theme of the conference.


The themes of EMAG 2011 will be: Quantitative interpretation of electron microscope images and spectra, Characterisation of advanced materials, New techniques and methods in electron microscopy.


Full details available on the RMS website at: www.rms.org under non-RMS events TO FIND OUT MORE CIRCLE NO. 193 191 190 NEWS Bringing you the latest Business News and updates from the Science Industry


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