Fluorescent imaging tracks metabolism of cells in real time
Cornell researchers have designed a new, faster form of two-photon fluorescence imaging for observing cell metabolism in real time, a method that could enable quicker screening of new therapeutic treatments. The findings were published Sept. 4 in Science Advances. The co-lead authors are former postdoctoral researcher Lu Ling, Ph.D. '20, and doctoral student Jack Crowley, M.S. '22.
Cornell researchers have developed a new, faster two-photon fluorescence imaging technique to observe cell metabolism in real time, which could expedite the testing of new treatments. The method, called two-photon fluorescence polarization ratiometric microscopy (FPRM), uses a laser-scanning microscope to scan polarized light across cells and then measures how rapidly molecules rotate.
Slower rotation indicates more NADH molecules are bound to proteins, suggesting energy generation within that cell region. This approach offers a faster, less invasive alternative to traditional fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) for tracking metabolic changes in cells, particularly relevant for dynamic processes like cancer growth.
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