Advancing biological discovery with in-vivo photonic imaging
Vasilis Ntziachristos
Technische Universität München & Helmholtz Zentrum Munich Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Neuherberg, Germany
Optical imaging is unequivocally the most versatile and widely used visualization modality in clinical practice and life sciences research. In recent years, photonic imaging has received increased attention in biological research and the drug discovery process as a tool that can non-invasively reveal information on the molecular basis of disease and treatment. An increasing availability of optical reporters, dyes, fluorochromes and probes enable now insights to cellular and sub-cellular processes. Combined with advanced instrumentation that allows penetration through entire small animals, embryos, fish and insects, this new set of method is transforming biological research and pre-clinical studies and has revolutionized the role of imaging on the laboratory bench, well beyond the capability of conventional microscopy. This talk describes current progress with instruments and methods for in-vivo macroscopic and mesoscopic tomography of fluorescent markers in entire animals and developing insects. We show how this technology is necessary for accurate and quantitative fluorescence investigations in tissues and why it could be potentially a valuable tool for accelerated investigations of therapeutic efficacy and outcome. We further demonstrate that sub-millimeter resolutions can be achieved in small animal imaging at high sensitivity and molecular specificity. Examples of imaging enzyme up-regulation, drug induced apoptosis and gene-expression in intact animals and insects are given. Limitations of the method and future directions are also discussed.
