München 2004 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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MO: Molekülphysik

MO 17: Poster II

MO 17.25: Poster

Donnerstag, 25. März 2004, 14:00–16:00, Schellingstr. 3

Infrared microscopy of living cells using a cw optoparametric oscillator — •Götz Wollny, Andreas Bergner, Erik Bründerman, Andreas Hecker, Robert Schiwon, and Martina Havenith — Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie II Ruhr-Universität Bochum Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum.

We have developed a new method to image microscopic structures in living cells using our unique high power cw optoparametric oscillator (up to 2W). We present the first infrared pictures of hepatocytes (liver cells) using a frequency of 2920 cm⁻¹ coinciding with the absorption band of lipids. Infrared microscopy will allow studies of living cells in cases where fluorescence markers are cell-damaging, alter the natural function of a protein in a cell or where labelling is impossible.

In the infrared spectral range, accessible to our laser systems, substances can be identified according to their specific absorption in the so-called No-dqfingerprintNo-dq region (1500-4000 cm⁻¹). Our method opens the possibility to investigate the chemical behaviour and the dynamics of small biomolecules in living cells to learn more about cell development over extended periods of time.

Only a few infrared microscopy experiments have been performed so far due to the strong water absorption in the infrared region and because of the need for a strong infrared synchrotron light source. Contrary, our unique optoparametric oscillator will allow us to routinely measure living cells and to improve spatial and time resolution.