Overview
Multiphoton microscopy has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding tissue architecture, cell structure and dynamics, and is routinely used to determine spatial and topological information about cells and tissues.
The Advanced Multiphoton Confocal Microscopy Facility at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology provides access to state-of-the-art imaging infrastructure and is currently the only one of its kind in Greece.
The facility incorporates the latest technology in multiphoton microscopy and optical imaging, with a mission of enabling researchers to visualize and monitor fundamental biological processes deep inside living cells and organisms.
Fluorescence imaging techniques are becoming widely used and are greatly appreciated as modern means of dissecting biological phenomena.
Sophisticated laser scanning microscopic instrumentation, ultra sensitive digital cameras and specialized fluorescence probes make it possible to visualize cellular events in real time down to the molecular level.
In addition, two-photon microscopy allows unparalleled detail in biological imaging and is extremely useful in monitoring cellular processes in vivo. This enables prolonged, observations that are not possible with classic confocal microscopes. Hence, two-photon microscopy has a broad range of applications in studies of gene expression regulation, development and neuronal function.
The full cost of the facility is financed by a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Investigator Grant, awarded to Prof. Nektarios Tavernarakis.