Shvabe holding has created an ultrahigh resolution laser microscope for early cancer detection and anti-cancer drug efficacy analysis. The product is currently used in unique research to study the ‘programmable’ death of cancer cells exposed to microgravity (zero-gravity).
MIM-N laser microscope is unparalleled in Russia and differs from foreign products in ultrahigh resolution up to 0.1 nm vertically and up to 100 nm in the plane of the object. Swiss devices have these indicators half as low. In addition, such performance significantly exceeds the traditional resolution limit for light microscopes which is equal to 0.25 µm. An integrated camera designed to maintain viability of the examined material is among other advantages of the new equipment.
“Thanks to its performance, the laser microscope distinguishes between normal and tumor cells. It helps track changes in cancer treatment process, titrate a drug and analyze its efficacy. In addition, owing to the MIM-N, a true breakthrough in science can be made. Today we are investigating whether biomedical research can be carried out in space using a modified microscope version. Observation of cell behavior in space will make it possible to prove or disprove the idea of the death of cancer cells in so-called microgravity conditions,” said Oleg Evtushenko, Executive Director of Rostec State Corporation.
