Fluorescence microscopy technique could lead to new drug development against osteoporosis

March 6, 2014
Scientists from the University of Granada (UGR)'s Department of Physio-Chemistry in Spain have turned to a fluorescence microscopy technique that allows specialists to measure the concentration of phosphate ions inside living cells.

Scientists from the University of Granada (UGR)'s Department of Physio-Chemistry in Spain have turned to a fluorescence microscopy technique that allows specialists to measure the concentration of phosphate ions inside living cells. The technique can evaluate the bioavailability of drugs used in certain illnesses, including osteoporosis—a progressive bone disease that affects bone density, particularly in women over 65.

Related: FTIR spectroscopy helps predict bone density, fracture risk

Related: Speeding the path to clinical trials: optical imaging in drug development

Currently, there are only invasive treatments to calculate phosphate concentration within osteoblasts, which are the precursors to bone cells. To do this, radioactive phosphorus is used, which has serious drawbacks. But the fluorescence microscopy technique that the researchers used—fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)—can make these calculations noninvasively and in real time. FLIM is based on using a substance that emits fluorescence, generated via prior agitation using a pulsed laser. The time the fluorescence lasts is a signal of the phosphate concentration within the cellular cytoplasm.

The University of Granada scientists in their laboratory.

The work has been patented via the University of Granada’s Research Results Transference Office (OTRI). Currently, the researchers are looking for pharmaceutical companies that are currently working on the development of drugs to measure the bioavailability of phosphate.

Full details of the researchers' work appear in the Journal of Physical Chemistry B; for more information, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp405041c.

-----

Follow us on Twitter, 'like' us on Facebook, and join our group on LinkedIn

Subscribe now to BioOptics World magazine; it's free!

About the Author

BioOptics World Editors

We edited the content of this article, which was contributed by outside sources, to fit our style and substance requirements. (Editor’s Note: BioOptics World has folded as a brand and is now part of Laser Focus World, effective in 2022.)

Sponsored Recommendations

Next-level virus detection via WIDE-MIP microscopy

Dec. 4, 2023
Rapid and accurate detection of a virus can quite literally make the difference between life and death. With this in mind, researchers created a mid-infrared photothermal microscope...

Flexible, Thixotropic, One Component Dual Cure Epoxy

Dec. 1, 2023
Master Bond UV23FLDC-80TK is a moderate viscosity, cationic type system that offers both UV light and heat curing mechanisms. It cures readily within 20-30 seconds when exposed...

MRF Polishing

Dec. 1, 2023
Welcome to Avantier, your esteemed partner in optical solutions for over five decades. With a legacy of expert knowledge, we invite you to delve into the realm of precision optics...

Fluorescence Microscopy Part 1: Illuminating Samples for High-Resolution Imaging

Dec. 1, 2023
Illuminating Samples Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful imaging technique widely used in various fields, especially in biomedical research, to visualize and study fluorescently...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!