Technical innovations and methodology

Research is based on continuous technological developments in microscopy:

• Improved microscopy components: Use of the latest lasers, optics and detectors to increase resolution and image quality.
• Adaptive optics (AO): Correction of optical aberrations, significantly improving image quality in living tissue.
• Innovative labeling strategies: Development of genetically encoded fluorescence systems for specific and gentle labeling of the ECS and its molecules (e.g. hyaluronic acid), as well as biosensors for extracellular calcium.
• Computer-assisted image analysis: Use of machine learning and AI for improved image segmentation, 3D reconstruction and quantitative analysis of complex ECS structures.
• Improved surgical techniques: optimization of cranial windows and anesthesia for stable long-term observations in vivo.

These innovations make it possible to capture the dynamics of cellular and molecular processes under realistic conditions and with unprecedented precision.