Method, System and Application for 3D Molecular Diffusion Tensor Measurement and Structural Imaging

Market Overview:

Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a versatile and widely used technique for measuring molecular diffusion properties within solutions, cells, tissues, biomaterials and the food and pharmaceutical industries. While it is a standard tool in biomedical and environmental research, all existing FRAP systems can only measure 2D diffusion, providing only diffusion measurement in limited directions. The long-standing goal to create a 3D diffusion tensor has not yet been achieved. The global Light Sheet Microscopy market segment was valued at $101.2 million in 2020 at a CAGR of 10.3% and is projected to grow to $181.9 million in 2026. This can be associated with application for a 3D FRAP microscope in the Biomaterials market segment, which was valued at $105.18 billion in 2019 at a CAGR of 14.5%. Clemson University researchers have implemented the first 3D FRAP microscope in the world by innovatively combining the 3D spatial Fourier transform FRAP method with high speed volumetric imaging and high-resolution structural imaging, calling it Light-sheet imaging-based Fourier transform FRAP (LiFT-FRAP).

 

Application                                                                   Stage of Development

FRAP, 3D Diffusion Tensor,                                            Prototype

Light-sheet Microscopy

        

Advantages

  • LiFT-FRAP allows for quantification in any direction in a 3D space
  • The microscope provides for a much higher volumetric imaging speed than the current available approach for FRAP, therefore LiFT-FRAP can measure a wide range of molecular diffusivities
  • This approach avoids the previously necessary tissue sectioning, plus all of the structural integrity problems and material property changes

 

Technical Summary

This technology incorporates high-speed 3D two-photon scanned light-sheet microscopy with the 3D Fourier transform FRAP method and achieves noninvasive, in-situ measurement of 3D diffusion tensors with diffusivities up to 51 µm2/s. This sensitivity is within the diffusion range of most molecules in biological systems, making FRAP a practical tool for 3D diffusion analysis in broad biomedical applications. A customized control software is written to run the microscope for performing the 3D FRAP experiment; included data analysis package provides a seamless process of acquired images for calculation of 3D diffusion tensors. 

View printable PDF version of this technology 

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Inventor:                       Hai Yao, Tong Ye

Patent Type:                  N/A

Serial Number:             63/052,726

CURF Ref No:              2020-022

Patent Information:
Category(s):
Biotechnology
For Information, Contact:
Chris Gesswein
Director of Licensing
Clemson University Research Foundation
agesswe@clemson.edu
Inventors:
Hai Yao
Tong Ye
Peng Chen
Xun Chen
Keywords:
© 2024. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Inteum