MIT researchers have developed a new technique for metabolic imaging that more than doubles the usual depth limit of noninvasive methods, enabling clinicians and scientists to study living cells using laser light. The innovative approach uses a specialized laser illuminates deep into biological tissue, causing certain intrinsic molecules within the cells and tissues to emit light.
Unlike previous techniques that required staining or cutting tissue, this method eliminates the need for alteration. Instead, the researchers adaptively customize the laser light for deep tissues by bending it to change its color and pulse properties. This allows them to penetrate deeper into living tissue and capture clearer images.
The breakthrough technique has significant implications for demanding imaging applications such as cancer research, tissue engineering, drug discovery, and the study of immune responses. It enables researchers to see cells at multiple levels within a living system, gather detailed information on how cell metabolism affects movement speed, and noninvasively monitor metabolic states in living organoids.
The researchers plan to aim for even higher-resolution images and develop algorithms that react to the images to reconstruct 3D biological structures. In the long run, they hope to apply this technique in real-world settings to help biologists monitor drug response in real-time and aid in medicine development.
Source: https://news.mit.edu/2024/noninvasive-imaging-method-can-penetrate-deeper-living-tissue-1211