Non-destructive, Functional Metabolic Imaging of Plant and Microbial Systems

Functional metabolic imaging of plant and microbial systems requires a sensitive, high spatial resolution microscopy method that can image metabolically important compounds in situ. This will require new chemically sensitive imaging methods to be developed. In this SBIR/STTR, we will develop a new coherent Raman-based microscopy technique that will improve ensitivity over existing stimulated Raman microscopy techniques by up to three orders of magnitude or more,and use this technique to perform functional metabolic imaging of plant and microbial systems non-destructively. In Phase I, we will test our proposed technique for functional metabolic imaging in plant and microbial systems. Noise levels will be examined, and detection levels of metabolically important compounds checked in known chemical mixtures and lysates. We will image test samples, such as plant cells, for metabolically relevant compounds. Our improved coherent Raman microscopy instrument will significantly transform the microscopy market with cell biology, biomedical, energy materials, bioenergy and environmental science applications. Improvements will have applications in medicine, Homeland Security, and nano- and meta-materials.