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 emitted signals. 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 typically provides two-dimensional representations of bioluminescent sources.
History
[edit]Bioluminescence, the phenomenon of light emission by living organisms, has been observed since ancient times. Historical figures like Aristotle and Pliny the Elder documented the natural glow produced by organisms such as fireflies, glow-worms, jellyfish, and mollusks.[1][2] While traditional bioluminescence imaging techniques provided only 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 necessary imaging theories, prototype systems, and algorithms for three-dimensional reconstruction of bioluminescent signals.[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: 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 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jiang, Ming; Zhou, Tie; Cheng, Jiantao; Cong, Wenxiang; Wang, Ge (2007). "Image reconstruction for bioluminescence tomography from partial measurement". Optics Express. 15 (18): 11095. doi:10.1364/OE.15.011095.
- ^ 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. doi:10.1038/srep36173. ISSN 2045-2322.
- ^ Gu, Xuejun; Zhang, Qizhi; Larcom, Lyndon; Jiang, Huabei (2004). "Three-dimensional bioluminescence tomography with model-based reconstruction". Optics Express. 12 (17): 3996. doi:10.1364/OPEX.12.003996.
- ^ Han, Weimin; Wang, Ge (2008). "Bioluminescence Tomography: Biomedical Background, Mathematical Theory, and Numerical Approximation". Journal of computational mathematics : an international journal on numerical methods, analysis and applications / edited by Editorial Committee of Journal of computational mathematics. 26 (3): 324–335. ISSN 0254-9409.