Powerful microscopy technology created

DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've developed a microscopy technology that might have a wide range of clinical applications by producing great depth and resolution.

Duke University researchers said their new technology enables them to peer so deeply into living tissue they can see molecules interacting. Such technology, they said, would allow scientists to inspect the margins of a tumor as it is removed from the body or assess the effects of anti-cancer agents on blood vessels that nourish tumors.

The Duke bioengineers said they combined tightly focused heat with optical coherence tomography, which has often been called the optical equivalent of ultrasound. The new experiments represent the first time the technique has been extended to the functional imaging of cells expressing particular molecular receptors.

"This technique could possibly augment traditional methods of deep-tissue molecular imaging with a relatively high resolution," said Melissa Skala, a postdoctoral fellow working with Duke Professor Joseph Izatt. "Not only were we able to get better images, we were able to specifically target the types of cells we were looking for."

The results of the research are available online in the journal Nano Letters.