This technology is a method for rapid and time-resolved optical super-multiplexed imaging of cell and tissue components via 20 distinct Raman frequencies achieved by tunable carbon polyyne materials, termed carbon rainbow (Carbow), for distinct spectral barcoding.
The need for robust and non-invasive imaging methods to identify and capture various tissue (e.g., proteins) and cellular (e.g., organelles or molecules) level targets is becoming increasingly necessary in disease detection and treatment. Existing imaging techniques include radioscopic labeling, fluorescence tagging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emissions tomography (PET). However, these techniques can be invasive, have low spatial resolution, and more importantly, cannot target a wide variety of molecules in a single assay.
This technology uses tunable carbon atom wires with different functional groups to produce 20 distinct Raman signatures which can be used for super-multiplexed optical imaging applications, termed carbon rainbow, or Carbow. The carbon atom wires consist of alkane-alkyne linkages (polyyne groups) of different lengths which can be easily synthesized. These molecules can be used for rapid cellular and tissue-level microscopy, with resolutions as high as organelle or intracell molecular levels. The narrow resonance of the Raman peaks and the 20 distinct signatures give rise to greater than 60,000 distinct spectral imaging barcodes which can be achieved by encapsulating different Carbow combinations in binding materials. Furthermore, due to the molecular level precision of this method, immunological compounds, such as antigens, proteins, and nucleic acids, can be targeted and imaged with high sensitivity through nanoscale amplification.
This technology has been validated in vitro within HeLa cells, hippocampal neurons, and cerebellar mice tissues.
IR CU13332, CU13346, CU15116, CU17371, CU18220
Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu
