A group of American scientists at the University of Southern California and the University of Cambridge has introduced a new method of fluorescent bioimizing, which allows real time to observe the internal processes of the body. The description of this method is published in the journal Nature Communications.
The method known as expanded spectral coded (SEER) is a modification of fluorescent hypelyspestral visualization. Its main advantage is the ability to work in real time, providing high clarity and speed of images compared to existing methods. Compared to other techniques, SEER has 2.7 times more clarity and operates 67 times faster.
The essence of the method is that the fluorescent agent introduced into the body is able to bind to specific cells or proteins, enables to monitor their movements and interaction in real time. Using a special signal processing algorithm, the SEER method provides great detail and uses less computer memory resources.
Designed to study various processes in the body, the new method can find use in medical studies, allowing to identify signs of diseases and to effectively control treatment. In the near future, scientists plan to use SEER to recognize the early stages of lung cancer and to study the effects of pollutants on the body.
"SEER can be the basis for smartphone programs in the field of remote medicine and quality control of foodstuffs," said Francesco Kutrale, Professor of Molecular and Computer Biology of Southern California University.