{"id":8064,"date":"2020-11-30T14:24:07","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T14:24:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=8064"},"modified":"2020-11-30T14:25:31","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T14:25:31","slug":"2d-thermal-bioimaging-technologies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/2d-thermal-bioimaging-technologies\/8064\/","title":{"rendered":"Nanoparticle-based 2D thermal bioimaging technologies"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Horizon 2020 FET-OPEN-funded project NanoTBTech is leading the way to new thermal bioimaging technologies.<\/h2>\n

Temperature measurements for biomedical technology<\/a> have a two-pronged promise to fulfil, namely the detection and spatial mapping of temperature gradients for the better and earlier detection of diseases, and the real-time monitoring of hyperthermia treatments with the aim of making this a general non-invasive and innocuous treatment technique. For thermal bioimaging technology to tackle those two complex challenges, non-contact thermometry must be achieved with a sub-micrometre resolution; while providing high sensitivity thermal readout in a real-time mode. The NanoTBTech FET-OPEN project is leading the global effort to make these dreams come true.<\/p>\n

The main pathways of the NanoTBTech approach are luminescent nanoparticles with high thermal sensitivity values, which are nontoxic, have long-circulating \u2018stealth\u2019, are functionalised, and are tumour-targeted. They are also non-invasive (as with NIR-to-NIR deep-tissue luminescence thermometry) and enable a real-time readout, both in vitro<\/em> and in vivo<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Simple and compact prototypes coupling luminescent 2D time-resolved thermal imaging and optical microscopy imaging under NIR irradiation (or AC magnetic field) to monitor local hyperthermia in cells (CSIC), and to study in vivo<\/em> time-gated and 2D hyperspectral magnetic- or optically-gated thermal transient thermometry in-depth tumour models (Biospace Lab\/FIBIRYCIS), are currently being developed.<\/p>\n

Accurate temperature readouts<\/h3>\n

Temperature plays a central role in the myriad of biochemical reactions regulating life. For instance, the intracellular temperature depends on cellular activity, including cell division, gene expression, enzymatic reactions, and pathological states. Cells have developed thermoregulation mechanisms to neutralise large external temperature changes and to maintain homeostasis of the body temperature upon exposure to hot or cold stimuli, an intriguing and not yet fully understood mechanism. NanoTBTech is tackling the issue of accurate temperature readouts, both in vivo<\/em> and in vitro<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Although currently less mature than other, clinically battle-hardened imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography<\/a> (PET), thermal bioimaging based on luminescence requires neither long scanning times nor post-processing analysis, providing a real-time readout far from the reach of all those competing techniques.<\/p>\n

Achievements<\/h3>\n

During the last year (the project started in September 2018) NanoTBTech has reported several remarkable achievements, including:<\/p>\n