Demand for Life Cell Imaging Is Increasing with the Increasing Incidence of Cancer

 


The life cell imaging is the investigation of live cells with time-lapse microscope. It is used by many researchers to obtain an understanding of specific biological function via the study of rapidly changing cellular dynamics. Live cell imaging was first pioneered in the first decade of the 20th century. The principle of imaging through living cells has evolved over the past decades. Originally it was achieved through electron microscopy, where the cells were fixed on a slide and a fluorescent dye was attached. Images would then be taken as the cells were engulfed in culture. The technique was refined later with the introduction of nuclear medicine and focused on the blood where cells could be examined for cancer markers.

Life cell imaging is gaining significant traction due to increasing techniques in various fields such as electro physiology, drug discovery, oncology, developmental biology, neurobiology, cell biology, and stem cell biology. Moreover, life cell imaging helps provide insights into dynamic processes in cell function and living cells with the help of multicolored probes and green fluorescent protein that label molecules and probe its function directly in live cells by light microscopy.

There are several technologies that have been applied for imaging. Fluorescence imaging uses fluorescent proteins as probes. Optical imaging uses light to pass through a cell or probe. Electrophoresis technique uses electric currents to identify active proteins. Some cancers can show up as spots where cells grow abnormally. These spots can be highly irregular and can occur in different areas of the body. This method has also been applied for testing new drugs. Other uses of this imaging method includes studying the effects of transplant on human cells in culture. This technology is used for pre and post-surgery treatments.

Another great use of life cell imaging is to study diseases. For example, prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease can be studied using this technique. Since these diseases affect different cells in the body, life cell imaging can tell researchers the state of the individual tissues. With rising incidence of cancer and rise in development of cancer drugs, the demand for life cell imaging is also increasing with a rapid pace. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States

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