Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
OFFICE OF COMMERCIALISATION AND INNOVATION Rapid Characterisation of Cells by Fluorescence Microscopy and Hyperspectral Analysis THE EXISTING PROBLEM OR ISSUE There is a shortage of methods to rapidly identify biochemical content and corresponding morphologies of single cells and tissues (live and fixed) without the use of intrusive chemical procedures. Current methods based on biochemical, and physiological criteria, molecular DNA analysis or fluorescence labelling are complex, time consuming and/or reagent intensive or they are unsuitable for single cells. OUR SOLUTION We developed an automated reagent-free method for cellular characterization based on intrinsic fluorescence microscopy. Our method uses autofluorescence, light emitted by native molecules found in all cells. The fluorescence images of live cells are obtained at a number of selected excitation wavelengths and their emission is captured in a specified, longer wavelength range using a standard microscope with a CCD camera and a customised inexpensive light source comprising multiple light emitting diodes. The light source can be retrofitted to any fluorescence microscope and is available as a separate IP. Autofluorescence micrographs of cell populations are analysed using custom-developed software to gather information about cellular content of key biomolecules of relevance to metabolism and hundreds of related quantitative features such as cell size, circularity, integrated intensity at each wavelength, average fluorophore content and texture. Example cellular maps of key fluorophores. Cells are outlined in white. APPLICATIONS High throughput screening of Automatic analysis of cells in cell cultures Study the effect of pharmaceutical agents Find and/or isolate “most potent” stem cells, viable sperm, “best” early embryos ADVANTAGES BENEFITS Fully quantitative diagnostic method Provides cellular level insight into cell metabolism Able to distinguish cell subpopulations No cell preparation Applicable to live and fixed cells and tissue Speed Image collection is several minutes Sensitive Detects stem cell differentiation 24 hours after onset With our method we are then able to: 1. Provide detailed insights into cell biochemistry and identify the abundances of several native fluorophores including free and bound NADH, flavins, retinoids, cytochrome C and others. 2. Identify previously undetected cell subpopulations and capture statistically meaningful differences between cell subpopulations 3. Detect stem cell differentiation as early as 24 hours after onset. 4. Distinguish cancer from non-cancer 5. Measure reactive oxygen species and some surface biomarkers (CD90) 6. Recognises genetic differences and the effect of chemical treatment. INVENTORS Ewa Goldys, Martin Gosnell, Ayad Anwer, Sandeep Perinchery, David Inglis. research.mq.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00002J 2010008 OFFICE OF COMMERCIALISATION AND INNOVATION Rapid Characterisation of Cells by Fluorescence Microscopy and Hyperspectral Analysis INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POSITION WO 2015/120209 “Cell Characterisation Method” WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? Contact Anna Grocholsky +61(0) 437 463 317 or [email protected] research.mq.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00002J 2010008