Two-photon fluorescence microscopy of the retina

Retinal diseases and disorders such as Retinal Vein Occlusion, Diabetic Retinopathy, Age-Related Macular Degeneration, and Retinal Tear or Detachments are among the top causes of blindness in the world. Though there are sophisticated technologies available today to diagnose these diseases on a macroscopic level, no existing technology enables us to view the microstructures of the retina and understand their physiological changes prior to the onset of, during the development of, and during the treatment of these diseases. A novel technology called two-photon microscopy, which is based on the principle of Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy and Two-Photon Excitation is being explored for its application in imaging the microstructures of the retina in vivo. This project aims to test the feasibility of imaging the retina using two-photon microscopy in an ex vivo environment. By carrying out two-photon microscopy on specimens of the bovine (pig) retina, prepared in different ways, the microstructures in the retina, more specifically, the photoreceptor cells, could be imaged by detecting their autofluorescence signals. The current challenges that this technology faces in imaging the retina were also understood.Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering