Switzerland – Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) – Un système d’imagerie quantitative 3D de cellules vivantes sans marquage

The EPFL intends to acquire, for its Mechanics of Soft and Biological Matter Laboratory (MESOBIO) of the School of Engineering (STI), a label-free quantitative 3D imaging system for live cells (holotomography or an equivalent technology of optical diffraction-/interference tomography) with an integrated multi-channel fluorescence module. The equipment is intended for cutting-edge research that requires quantitative, non-invasive three-dimensional observation of live cells over extended periods, as well as their correlation with the fluorescence labelling of specific cellular structures. Taking into account the needs of the EPFL and the specific scientific objectives of the MESOBIO laboratory, the focus will be on the following research areas: Quantitative and correlative live-cell imaging, combining label-free 3D refractive index tomography with targeted fluorescence microscopy, in particular for: • the quantitative long-term observation of the morphology of living cells, as well as their dry mass and volume dynamics, without fixation or staining, • correlative multimodal imaging, combining label-free 3D tomography with the fluorescence labelling of specific organelles or molecular target structures, • the study of non-equilibrium dynamics and phase transitions in living matter through quantitative measurements of structure and dynamics at the cellular and sub-cellular level.