Chemical Microscopy

Optically Detected Magnetic Resonance for Selective Imaging of Diamond Nanoparticles

“…One of the key challenges of analytical chemistry is to selectively identify individual species within complex systems. An emerging problem of particular significance and difficulty is to understand the fate and transport of nanomaterials in environmental and biological systems. − While the past decade has witnessed outstanding progress in the development of single-photon and subdiffraction optical methods, − the use of fluorescence methods to characterize nanomaterials is hampered by the fact that most fluorescent nanoparticles are unstable over the extended time course (frequently days to weeks) associated with biological exposure studies, − and complex background signals associated with environmental matrices frequently interfere with emission from nanoparticles of interest. , Organic chromophores can be grafted onto nanoparticle surfaces but can be chemically ligated by enzymes and other molecules, are subject to bleaching under intense illumination, and can exhibit cytotoxicity . Consequently, there remains an unmet need for highly stable and selective fluorescent nanoparticles that are nontoxic and will not degrade over extended times in environmental and/or biological media, even under intense illumination. , A particularly acute challenge in environmental systems is to distinguish fluorescence of the fluorophore probe from competing optical signals such as scattering and autofluorescence …”

Advanced microscopy techniques to assess solid-state properties of inhalation medicines

“…Another unique advantage of Raman spectroscopy is it can be used to selectively analyse components of a material by changing the excitation wavelength. In addition, Raman spectroscopy does not require invasive sample preparation and Raman spectra usually contain sharp bands that are characteristic of the specific molecular bonds in the sample [15]. The intensity of the bands in a Raman spectrum is proportional to the concentration of the corresponding molecules and, thus, can be used for quantitative analysis of the surfaces of materials [125].…”

“…Optical and electron microscopy techniques utilise light and electrons, respectively, to irradiate the sample of interest. In the case of optical microscopy this is achieved by wide-field irradiation of the sample of interest with light [15]. In contrast, techniques such as confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) utilise a fine beam of the energy source to scan over the sample [16] [17].…”

Setting Up and Running an Advanced Light Microscopy and Imaging Facility

“…There are several reasons why light microscopy and imaging facilities are so extended nowadays. On one hand, the high cost of these instruments has forced researchers to acquire and use them as shared resources and, on the other hand, their complexity justifies the existence of qualified personnel that allows full access to entry‐level users and, at the same time, maintains their optimal functional status (Cooke, ; Fernández‐Suárez and Ting, ; Rae Chi, ; Combs, ; Ntziachristos, ; Smith et al, ; Spiller et al, ; Walter et al, ; Wessels et al, ). These facilities are becoming excellent platforms to promote scientific collaboration and resource exploitation at national and international levels.…”