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Bioluminescence Imaging
Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) permits sensitive in vivo detection and quantification of cells specifically engineered to exhibit bioluminescence. Unlike fluorescence, it is not necessary to stimulate the labelled molecules by an external light source, such as lasers, since BLI responds to specific stimulus in vivo.
One of the most common examples of BLI is the enzyme Luciferase, the protein that makes fireflies glow. Luciferase breaks down D-luciferin in the presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), producing visible light. As ATP is only produced in cells with active metabolism, only living cells will emit light. The resulting emission of light can be detected with a CCD imaging array.
Some of the most common applications of BLI include the in vivo non-invasive detection of tumours, quantification of tumour growth and cancer progression (metastasis). Most of these studies are conducted in oncological animal models with implanted xenografts using a bioluminescent cancer cell line.
While bioluminescence is able to localize in vivo tumours and follow their progression, fluorescence using a labelled targeting agent like an antibody can detect labelled therapeutic drugs. Combining these two techniques enables the detection, quantification of tumour progression (metastasis) and the response to treatment from a therapeutic agent.
The rapid assessment and validation of therapeutic treatments by using combined (multimodal) imaging brings us a step closer towards clinical applications.
Related Information
Read more about Bioluminescence Imaging:
- Diagnostic Technologies
- Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy
- Fluorescence Imaging
- Frequency Modulated Spectroscopy
- High Throughput Diagnostics
- MRI Studies
- Molecular Imaging - Spectroscopy
- Non-linear Optical Microscopic Imaging
- Optical Coherence Tomography
- Raman Spectroscopy
- Speckle Imaging
- Thermal Imaging
