Abstract

P Bresnahan
GE Healthcare Bio-sciences, Asia Pacific Region, Hong Kong

Imaging for Functional Biology Studies: Technology from GE Healthcare Bio-sciences.
In recent years many genomics and proteomics programs have been aimed at identifying molecular markers for disease. Moving these markers into physiologically relevant systems for analysis is the next phase in research and development of therapeutic solutions. This technology requires a combination of instruments, targeted chemistry and software. GE Healthcare has a wide spectrum of imaging instruments used for cell-based assays and whole animal studies. Instruments for whole animal imaging, use similar technology to that used for clinical studies, but perform at higher resolution for smaller field of view. The micro-CT scanner features x-ray imaging with enhanced resolution and volumetric data collection optimal for small animals. With this technology valuable anatomical data can be obtained. Utilizing fluorescence markers often used in cell-based assays, the optical instrument uses unique pulsed-laser technology to detect fluorescence in whole animals. The proprietary time domain analysis allows interpretation of signal depth and concentration, leading to a highly quantitative result as well as the ability to multiplex with different markers. Finally, the micro-PET instrument can be used with radioisotope for highly sensitive detection of metabolism within a whole animal. The use of automated software from for analysis provides further utility of this technology.



Key words: x-ray, tomography, fluorescence, small animal, in vivo, PET.