Metabolic
New non-invasive imaging device could be used in biomedical research and translational medicine
A biochemical reaction between an enzyme called luciferase and oxygen makes fireflies glow and is considered one of the most famous examples of bioluminescence in nature.
Now, an international team of researchers led by Elena Goun at the University of Missouri is working to harness the power of bioluminescence in an inexpensive, non-invasive portable medical imaging device that will one day find use in many applications in biomedical research and translational medicine and clinical diagnoses.
Potential applications include developing better therapies for cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases, as well as monitoring various metabolic functions such as gut health in animals and humans, said Goun, associate professor of chemistry at the College of Arts and Science and co-author of the study published in Nature Communications.
This is the first example of an inexpensive, portable, bioluminescent imaging tool that can be used on large non-transgenic animals such as dogs. The mobility and economy of this technology also make it a powerful tool for use in many areas of preclinical research, clinical research and diagnostics. “
Elena Goun, researcher, University of Missouri
Once the imaging probe is inserted into the body and reaches a specific internal organ such as the liver, the level of biological activity such as liver toxicity determines the amount of luciferin that is released into the bloodstream.
Eventually it reaches the area of the device and triggers a biochemical reaction that creates light. A portable light detector – about 10 millimeters smaller than the diameter of a penny – is then placed on the surface of the body near the deployed device and measures the intensity of the light. The amount of light detected correlates with the amount of luciferin present, which scientists can then use to determine the health of the target organ.
Jeffrey Bryan, professor of veterinary oncology at the College of Veterinary Medicine and co-author of the study, said the technology would be useful in a clinical setting – both veterinary and human – where health professionals can determine whether a die Treatment works in a patient.
“This allows us to monitor a patient’s physiological response to the treatment they are given in a minimally invasive way,” said Bryan, who is also assistant director of comparative oncology at MU’s Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. “Right now, most of the time we look for treatment answers by asking the patient how they are feeling and then doing large, invasive, and expensive tests to see if the treatment is working. Sometimes it takes multiple procedures. But if we can use this technology to monitor the desired effect in a minimally invasive manner and continue to monitor progress over a long period of time, which would likely reduce the need for more invasive testing.
In addition to the diagnostic testing benefits of this technology, Goun said the approach could significantly reduce the number of dogs, cats, and non-human primates used by commercial drug development companies for experimental testing purposes.
“Portable bioluminescent platform for in vivo monitoring of biological processes in non-transgenic animals,” was published in Nature Communications.
Source:
University of Missouri-Columbia
Journal reference:
Yevtodiyenko, A., et al. (2021) Portable bioluminescence platform for in vivo monitoring of biological processes in non-transgenic animals. Nature communication. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22892-9.