dissection update and Deliverable 3

[Jonathan.Lake]

Hey team,

The yesterday went well we harvested 4 interesting samples. including a mouse prostate, spinal nerve network, the facial/optic nerves and he femeral nerve network where is bifurcates.  We only had enough camera time to image 3 of the samples.  At first pass it remains unclear whether there is any enhancement of nerve contrast in these images.  We will know more once all the images are compiled and formatted like the initial images(later this week).

I have done a bit of background reading in the meantime, and it appears that trypotophan and NADH are the dominant fluorophores in the UV range we are exciting at. These flurophores are important in a variety of biochemical processes in the cell thought to be different in cancer cells).  At 415 nm (blue light) Elastin and Collagen are the dominant flurophores and these form the stuctural components of nerves ligaments, aterial walls etc.  After realizing this I will talk to Asael about buying some blue LEDs and using them on his system to try to focus in on elastin and collagen and  achive better contrast between these stuctural components of nerves and surrounding tissue. I will update you all when I know more about this potential.

As for deliverable 3 I will compile the claims along with our schematic and submit it later today (around 11am) if anyone has any remaining edits/suggestions please let me know before this time.

Best,

--
Jonathan Lake
Sensors and Technology Lab
Department of Electrical Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles
Tel. (818)-470-1835
Email: jonath...@ucla.edu