Fluorescent nanosensors help distinguish between healthy and diseased immune cells in blood samples

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and SciLifeLab have devised a novel technique to examine the health status of immune cells in blood samples. The innovative approach, known as spectral biophysical cytometry (SBC), integrates fluorescent nanosensors with high-speed flow cytometry to simultaneously analyze multiple physical attributes of individual cells within large populations.

In a study published in Nature Nanotechnology, the team tested the method on patients with atherosclerosis, comparing immune cells from these patients to those of healthy individuals. The researchers identified distinct physical alterations in atherosclerosis immune cells, particularly in T cells, which were linked to changes in cell membrane organization, mitochondrial function, lipid composition, and active gene expression.

By detecting these variations directly in blood samples, without the need for extensive genetic or protein analysis, SBC offers a rapid, cost-effective method for assessing immune cell health. The findings suggest that cellular physical properties could serve as valuable indicators of overall health and disease progression, potentially applicable to various medical conditions. The researchers are now planning to expand the study to larger patient groups and explore its utility in other diseases.