Bari hosts Italy's first quantum cascade laser microscope

Italy has received its first quantum cascade laser (QCL) infrared microscope, a specialized tool designed for the analysis of biological tissues. Developed by Bruker Corporation, the system was installed at the PolySense Lab within the Interuniversity Department of Physics at the University and Polytechnic of Bari.

The €450,000 system was acquired in collaboration with the IN2LAB laboratory led by Professor Vitoantonio Bevilacqua. Unlike conventional histological techniques, QCL microscopy provides ultra-precise images based on the chemical and molecular composition of biological samples without the need for chemical dyes or reagents.

By reading the infrared footprint of biomolecules, the microscope can autonomously distinguish between healthy and pathological cells, identify metabolic alterations, and support the automatic classification of diseases, such as prostate cancer, using advanced artificial intelligence algorithms. Professor Vincenzo Spagnolo noted that this infrastructure positions Bari as a significant national and international hub for advanced biochemical imaging and diagnostics.