Bioluminescence tomography
 | This article may incorporate text from a large language model. (October 2024) |
Bioluminescence tomography (BLT) is a non-invasive imaging technique used to reconstruct the three-dimensional distribution of bioluminescent sources based on optical signals measured on the surface of a small animal. It is primarily applied in preclinical research to study molecular and cellular processes in living organisms. BLT was developed as an advancement over bioluminescence imaging (BLI), which only provides two-dimensional representations of bioluminescent sources.
History
[edit]Bioluminescence, the phenomenon of light emission by bioluminescence proteins in living organisms, has been observed since ancient times. Historical figures like Aristotle and Pliny the Elder documented the natural glow of organisms such as fireflies, glow-worms, jellyfish, and mollusks.[1][2] While traditional bioluminescence imaging techniques make two-dimensional images, the need for more detailed anatomical and functional studies led to the development of bioluminescence tomography. This approach was pioneered by researchers, including Ge Wang and his team at the University of Iowa, who developed the imaging theories, prototype systems, and algorithms for three-dimensional reconstruction of a bioluminescent source distribution inside a mouse model.[3]
Principles
[edit]BLT works by detecting light emitted from bioluminescent markers within a living subject. These markers can be either genetically encoded or chemically introduced into specific tissues or cells. Upon reacting with a substrate, the markers emit light, which is then captured by imaging systems such as charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras.[4] The main steps involved in the process include:
- Signal Collection: Multiple two-dimensional images are taken from various angles around the subject.[5]
- Light Propagation Modeling: Based on anatomical features and their optical properties of a small animal (commonly, a living mouse), mathematical models simulate the scattering and absorption of light as it travels through biological tissues.[6]
- Image Reconstruction: Using advanced algorithms, a three-dimensional image is generated from the two-dimensional data, allowing for the visualization of bioluminescent sources within the subject.[7]
Applications
[edit]BLT has a variety of applications in biomedical research, including:
- Cancer Research: BLT is used to monitor tumor growth and metastasis non-invasively by tagging cancer cells with bioluminescent markers.[8]
- Gene Expression Studies: Researchers can visualize and quantify gene expression in real time by tagging specific genes with bioluminescent markers.[9]
- Drug Development: BLT is employed to assess the effectiveness and mechanisms of drugs by observing their effects on bioluminescently labeled cells or tissues.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Luciferase: A Powerful Bioluminescent Research Tool". The Scientist Magazine.
- ^ "Lighting the Way". Spie.org.
- ^ "Research Portal". iro.uiowa.edu.
- ^ Deng, Zijian; Xu, Xiangkun; Iordachita, Iulian; Dehghani, Hamid; Zhang, Bin; Wong, John W.; Wang, Ken Kang-Hsin (30 August 2022). "Mobile bioluminescence tomography-guided system for pre-clinical radiotherapy research". Biomedical Optics Express. 13 (9): 4970–4989. doi:10.1364/BOE.460737. ISSN 2156-7085. PMC 9484421. PMID 36187243.
- ^ Han, Weimin; Wang, Ge (2008). "Bioluminescence Tomography: Biomedical Background, Mathematical Theory, and Numerical Approximation". Journal of Computational Mathematics. 26 (3): 324–335. ISSN 0254-9409. JSTOR 43693541. PMC 2898173. PMID 20617105.
- ^ Xu, Xiangkun; Deng, Zijian; Dehghani, Hamid; Iordachita, Iulian; Lim, Michael; Wong, John W.; Wang, Ken Kang-Hsin (1 December 2021). "Quantitative Bioluminescence Tomography-Guided Conformal Irradiation for Preclinical Radiation Research". International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics. 111 (5): 1310–1321. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.08.010. ISSN 0360-3016. PMC 8602741. PMID 34411639.
- ^ Jiang, Ming; Zhou, Tie; Cheng, Jiantao; Cong, Wenxiang; Wang, Ge (2007). "Image reconstruction for bioluminescence tomography from partial measurement". Optics Express. 15 (18): 11095–11116. Bibcode:2007OExpr..1511095J. doi:10.1364/OE.15.011095. hdl:10919/46915. PMID 19547465.
- ^ Mollard, Séverine; Fanciullino, Raphaelle; Giacometti, Sarah; Serdjebi, Cindy; Benzekry, Sebastien; Ciccolini, Joseph (4 November 2016). "In Vivo Bioluminescence Tomography for Monitoring Breast Tumor Growth and Metastatic Spreading: Comparative Study and Mathematical Modeling". Scientific Reports. 6: 36173. Bibcode:2016NatSR...636173M. doi:10.1038/srep36173. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 5095884. PMID 27812027.
- ^ Gu, Xuejun; Zhang, Qizhi; Larcom, Lyndon; Jiang, Huabei (2004). "Three-dimensional bioluminescence tomography with model-based reconstruction". Optics Express. 12 (17): 3996–4000. Bibcode:2004OExpr..12.3996G. doi:10.1364/OPEX.12.003996. PMID 19483937.
- ^ Han, Weimin; Wang, Ge (2008). "Bioluminescence Tomography: Biomedical Background, Mathematical Theory, and Numerical Approximation". Journal of Computational Mathematics. 26 (3): 324–335. ISSN 0254-9409. PMC 2898173. PMID 20617105.