How Photometrics state-of-the-art imaging is helping the scientific community to evolve their science

The original architect of the world’s first scientific-grade microscopy EMCCD camera, Photometrics has led the industry for decades with state-of-the-art imaging for the scientific community. Tens of thousands of researchers around the globe rely on these cutting-edge cameras to meet their most demanding application requirements. Below we have highlighted the way in which two research groups are using Photometrics cameras to evolve their science.

Single-Camera, Multi-Parametric Imaging of Human Stem Cell-Derived Heart Tissue

Using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS)-derived heart tissue to screen for potential therapeutic compounds offers a personalized approach to patient care. However, before drug companies can rely on this new cell source, researchers need to develop a method to measure their electrophysiological function.

In the Department of Physics at Oxford University works a doctoral student called Peter Lee. Together with Dr Todd Herron (Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Center for Arrhythmia Research at the University of Michigan), they have developed a scalable and simple single-camera, multi-parametric functional measurement system.

Fluorescence imaging has become a standard tool for functional research in cardiac tissue; however, the technical complexity of simultaneously measuring more than one parameter and the associated cost has prevented researchers from broadly taking up this approach.

With a single high-performance EMCCD camera and off-the-shelf components, Lee and Herron were able to demonstrate for the first time simultaneous voltage (i.e. AP) and intracellular-calcium transient and propagation measurements of large human iPS cardiomyocyte monolayers…read more

You can also download the pdf here

In Vivo Fluorescence Imaging of Microvasculature

Radiation therapy is one of the most successful treatments for malignant tumors. In addition to causing tumor death it also weakens and collapses the rapidly forming vasculature around the tumor. For tumors in the central nervous system (CNS), radiation-induced vascular weakening and activation of astrocytes can cause acute and long-term damage to normal brain tissue.

M. Waleed Gaber, an associate professor at Baylor’s College of Medicine and co-director of the small animal imaging facility at Texas Children’s Hospital, is investigating factors that influence the health of vasculature surrounding CNS tumors to optimize efficacy and safety of anti-cancer therapies. His team recently identified that tumor necrosis factor-alpha is linked to acute microvascular damage and astrocyte activation following radiotherapy.

Part of the challenge facing Gaber’s team is the need to visualize labelled leukocytes flowing through blood vessels. Over the long intervals needed to monitor these cells and their interactions, the energy from the illumination could photobleach the fluorophores in the labelled cells and could ultimately interfere with the functionality of those cells.

With help and guidance from the Photometrics imaging team, Gaber and colleagues were able to integrate a Photometrics high-quantum efficiency camera with his novel hybrid imaging system.

“What impressed me the most was their commitment to us,” said Gaber. “It was an evolving process to determine our requirements, but knowing that a company is going to invest time in supporting our needs was essential to the success of our work.”…read more

You can also download the pdf here

You can read more case studies such as these over at the Photometrics website

https://www.photometrics.com/resources/casestudy/