MicroSwiss: Affordable Add-On for Polarization, Lifetime, & Super-Resolved Imaging and Tracking

Objective

MicroSwiss aims to develop and validate a plug-and-play microscopy add-on that enhances fluorescence microscopy by combining super-resolution imaging, fluorescence lifetime multiplexing, molecular orientation analysis, and high-speed single-particle tracking into a compact system. This innovative approach overcomes key limitations of current imaging techniques, including hardware complexity, high costs, slow acquisition speeds, and restricted molecular orientation tracking. Addressing these challenges makes high-resolution imaging more accessible to the broader scientific community. The project will first focus on prototype development, integrating a polarization-sensitive prism system, a SPAD-based fluorescence lifetime extraction module, and novel algorithms into a functional imaging system with custom software. This system will enable molecular tracking and fluorescence lifetime analysis, providing researchers with new capabilities to study dynamic biological processes at nanometre resolution. Next, the project will demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the add-on across different biological systems and experimental conditions. Benchmarking experiments will evaluate aerolysin pore formation dynamics, molecular diffusion, and orientation-sensitive imaging in varied membrane environments. Planned validation experiments will establish MicroSwiss as a versatile and reliable tool for studying protein assembly and molecular interactions. Beyond technical validation, the project will assess commercialization potential, including market positioning, IP strategy, and business development. Collaboration with EPFL’s Enable program and industry partners will support the transition from prototype to minimum viable product. By the project’s end, MicroSwiss will have reached TRL 5 with a clear roadmap for commercialization through licensing, partnerships, or a dedicated start-up, ensuring its impact in academic research, drug discovery, and nanotechnology applications