Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, have developed an innovative microscopy technique to study tiny biomolecules.
These nano-sized particles are essential components of living organisms and include proteins, metabolites and carbohydrates. The presence of biomolecules in the appropriate concentrations is crucial for living cells to function properly.
New microscopy method using a nanochannel. Source: Chalmers University of Technology
The video above shows a “nanochannel”, a tiny tube filled with test fluid that has been mounted within an optical dark-field microscope and illuminated. The biomolecule appears as a dark shadow moving freely inside the nanochannel.
This allows scientists to determine the mass and size of the biomolecule and obtain indirect information about its shape, something the researchers say was not previously possible with a single technique.
Christoph Langhammer, professor at the Department of Physics at Chalmers University of Technology explained: “With current methods you can never quite be sure that the labelling or the surface to which the molecule is attached does not affect the molecule’s properties.
"With the aid of our technology, which does not require anything like that, it shows its completely natural silhouette, or optical signature, which means that we can analyze the molecule just as it is.
“The aim is to further hone our technique so that it can help to increase our basic understanding of how life works, and contribute to making the development of the next generation medicines more efficient” he added.
Quick links:
- An introduction to nanomedicine
- How Sanofi is using AI to accelerate time to market for new drugs
- How to use connected innovation intelligence for drug discovery and development
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