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Development of shortwave infrared emitting fluorophores and bioimaging application

Project

Project Details

Program
BioScience
Field of Study
​Fluorescence microscopy, Optics, Physics, Cell biology
Division
Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering
Faculty Lab Link
https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/faculty/satoshi-habuchi

Project Description

One of the main challenges in applying fluorescence microscopy to large biological specimens including tissues and whole organisms, which is the latest focus in fluorescence imaging field, is the absorption and scattering of both excitation light and fluorescence emission by the specimens. Oneofthe best ways to capture high quality images through thick biological specimens is to use shortwave infrared (SWIR, 1,000-1,700 nm) fluorescence since both absorption and scattering of light are highly suppressed in this wavelength region. However, fluorophores that are available for SWIR fluorescence imaging at the moment are very limited. In this project, we develop new SWIR emitting fluorophores using conjugated polymer materials. Through in depth photophysical characterization including single-molecule SWIR fluorescence microscopy, we aim to develop new SWIR-emitting conjugated polymer nanoparticles. Based on the photophysical characteristics of the developed materials, we also aimtodevelop new SWIR fluorescence imaging techniques including time-gated imaging.

About the Researcher

Satoshi Habuchi
Professor, Bioscience
Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division

Affiliations

Education Profile

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School, 2005
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 2001
  • Ph.D., Hokkaido University, 2001
  • M.Sc., Hokkaido University, 1999
  • B.Sc., Hokkaido University, 1997

Research Interests

Professor Habuchi's research focuses on the development of tools and materials for fluorescence molecular imaging. His research interests include the development of microfluidics-based super-resolution/single-molecule fluorescence imaging platform for studying cellular interactions in the presence of external force, development of near-infrared/short wavelength infrared fluorescent nanoparticles using conjugated polymers for single-molecule/particle fluorescence imaging in biological tissues, and development of new single-molecule tracking methods to capture hidden nonrandom motion and conformational dynamics at the molecular level.

Selected Publications

  • AbuZineh, K.; Joudeh, L. I.; Al Alwan, B.; Hamdan, S. M.; Merzaban, J. S.; Habuchi, S. ""Microfluidics-based super-resolution microscopy enables nanoscopic characterization of blood stem-cell homing"", Sci. Adv. 2018, 4, eaat5304.
  • Abadi, M.; Serag, M. F.; Habuchi, S. ""Entangle polymer dynamics beyond reptation"", Nat. Commun., 2018, 9, 5098.
  • Piwonski, H.; Michinobu, T.; Habuchi, S. a€œControlling photophysical properties of ultrasmall conjugated polymer nanoparticles through polymer chain packinga€, Nat. Commun., 2017, 8, 15256.
  • Serag, M. F.; Habuchi, S. a€œConserved linear dynamics of single-molecule Brownian motiona€, Nat. Commun., 2017, 8, 15675.
  • Serag, M. F.; Abadi, M.; Habuchi, S. a€œSingle-molecule diffusion and conformational dynamics by spatial integration of temporal fluctuationsa€, Nat. Commun., 2014, 5, 5123.
  • Loveland, A. B.; Habuhi, S.; Walter, J. C.; van Oijen, A. M. a€œA general approach to break the concentration barrier in single-molecule imaginga€, Nat. Methods, 2012, 9, 987-992.
  • Habuchi, S.; Ando, R.; Dedecker, P.; Verheijen, W.; Mizuno, H.; Miyawaki, A.; Hofkens, J. a€œReversible single-molecule photoswitcing in the GFP-like fluorescent protein Dronpaa€, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sic. USA, 2005, 102, 9511-9516.
  • Abadi, M.; Serag, M. F.; Habuchi, S. ""Entangle polymer dynamics beyond reptation"", Nat. Commun., 2018, 9, 5098.
  • AbuZineh, K.; Joudeh, L. I.; Al Alwan, B.; Hamdan, S. M.; Merzaban, J. S.; Habuchi, S. ""Microfluidics-based super-resolution microscopy enables nanoscopic characterization of blood stem-cell homing"", Sci. Adv. 2018, 4, eaat5304.

Desired Project Deliverables

​Development of new SWIR-emitting conjugated polymer nanoparticles. Detailed photophysical characterization of the developed materials.  Optimization of SWIR fluorescence microscopy system for bioimaging applications.​
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