This research was supported by the research programs of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) (NRF-2015R1A1A1A05001548 and NRF-2015R1A5A1037668).

Experiments with blood samples were performed in compliance with the relevant laws and institutional guidelines. The samples were the residual blood samples that had been acquired and processed in clinical tests at the institution.
1. PT-AS Optical Setup
NOTE: One may use an empty micro-capillary tube for an initial PT-AS setup.
<ol>
	<li>Mount an empty micro-capillary tube with inner and outer diameters of 200 and 330 &#956;m, respectively, and a length of greater than ~5 cm on a capillary tube fixture. Commercially-available fiber fixtures can be used as the tube fixture.</li>
	<li>Securely anchor a 650 nm laser pointer, i.e., probe light source, to illuminate the capillary tube. The probe beam should be larger than the capillary tube. Place a screen (e.g., white paper) behind the capillary tube to observe an angular periodic pattern.</li>
	<li>For the detection part, remove any lenses in a webcam to directly capture the scattering pattern. Position the webcam behind the capillary tube at an angle of 25-35&#176; relative to the probe beam direction. Ensure that the angular periodic pattern produced by the capillary tube can be measured with the detector (Figure 1). Observe the angular periodic pattern in the middle of the image sensor when the image sensor is properly positioned.</li>
	<li>Position a 532-nm PT excitation light source to illuminate the capillary tube. Position the PT light source at any angle, as long as the PT excitation light overlaps with probe beam on the capillary tube and does not reach the detector directly. PT excitation of blood samples using high optical power typically improves the PT-AS sensitivity, as it leads to a larger change in the RI.
	<ol>
		<li>Use the highest optical power of the employed PT excitation light source. In addition, ensure that the PT excitation light overlaps the probe light on the capillary tube. Use a beam size of the PT excitation light at least twice that of the probe light to heat the entire probe volume.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Place a long-pass filter in front of the detector to block the 532-nm light and measure only the 650-nm probe light.</li>
	<li>Install an optical chopper in the path of the PT excitation light before illuminating the capillary tube. The optical chopper is employed to modulate the PT excitation light intensity.</li>
</ol>
2. Blood Sample Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Draw 6 ml of fresh whole blood in anemic condition into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood sampling tubes, and mix the samples well. No other processing is required.</li>
	<li>Measure the blood samples using the PT-AS sensor within 24 hr of extraction to prevent coagulation.</li>
</ol>
3. PT-AS Measurement Protocols
<ol>
	<li>Load a micro-capillary tube with a blood sample to measure. Fill the capillary tube with the blood through capillary action by placing the tube into the blood sample. The minimum sample volume required for measurement is determined by the inner diameter of the capillary tube and the probe beam size.
	<ol>
		<li>Employ a tube with an inner diameter of 200 &#956;m. The probe beam size was 2 mm in the representative results, suggesting that the measurement can be performed with a sample volume of &#62;63 nl.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Mount the capillary tube at the designated position in the fixture.</li>
	<li>Turn on the 650 nm probe laser to illuminate the blood-loaded micro-capillary tube. The angular periodic pattern should be observed with the webcam.</li>
	<li>Turn on the 532-nm PT excitation laser to illuminate the tube.</li>
	<li>Run the optical chopper to modulate the intensity of the PT excitation light at 2 Hz. 
	&#8203;NOTE: The rationale for the selection of this operating condition is described in Discussion and Kim et al.12.
	<ol>
		<li>Mount a chopper wheel in the motor head assembly of the optical chopper system.</li>
		<li>Turn on the chopper control box, and use the control knob in the console to set the modulation frequency.</li>
		<li>Run the chopper using the control knob.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Record the fluctuating scattering pattern via the webcam for 5 sec in MPEG-4 (mp4) format.</li>
</ol>
4. Signal Processing
NOTE: PT-AS signal processing was performed using a lab-developed MATLAB code.
<ol>
	<li>Load the video file to extract the images. For each image [see Figure 2(a) for a representative image], obtain the averaged scattering pattern by computing the mean of the pixel values along the vertical direction [Figure 2(b, c)].</li>
	<li>Evaluate the Fourier transform of the averaged scattering pattern, and compute the phase at the peak spatial frequency. Perform these operations for all the frames of all the recorded images.</li>
	<li>Using the phase values obtained from all the images, plot the temporal phase fluctuation [Figure 2(d)]. Note that the phase fluctuates at the PT modulation frequency. Take the Fourier transform of the phase fluctuation in the time domain, and obtain the magnitude at the modulation frequency. This signal is referred to as the PT-AS signal [Figure 2(e)].</li>
	<li>Measure the [Hb] of a blood sample by converting its PT-AS signal into the corresponding [Hb] using the calibration curve that is obtained in Protocol 5.</li>
</ol>
5. PT-AS Calibration
<ol>
	<li>Prepare blood samples, having [Hb] values that are uniformly distributed in the detection range of the PT-AS sensor (e.g., 0 - 18 g/dl).</li>
	<li>Before calibration, quantify the [Hb] values of the samples using a reference hematology analyzer. Measure the PT-AS signals of the samples.</li>
	<li>Derive a calibration curve relating [Hb] to the PT-AS signal by performing a linear least squares fit, [Hb] = A[PT-AS Signal] + B, of the experimental results. For the operating conditions specified in Table 1, the relationship between [Hb] and the PT-AS signal was found to be [Hb] = 5.13 [PT-AS signal] - 0.09. Use MATLAB code to perform the linear fit.</li>
</ol>

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Hematol. 64 (3), 113-122 (1992).</li><li>Rosenblit, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+three+methods+for+hemoglobin+measurement+in+a+blood+donor+setting.">Evaluation of three methods for hemoglobin measurement in a blood donor setting.</a> Sao Paulo Medical Journal. 117 (3), 108-112 (1999).</li><li>Van Kampen, E., Zijlstra, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Standardization+of+hemoglobinometry+II.+The+hemiglobincyanide+method.">Standardization of hemoglobinometry II. The hemiglobincyanide method.</a> Clin. Chim. Acta. 6 (4), 538-544 (1961).</li><li>Billett, H. 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No conflict of interest is declared.

The PT-AS sensor represents an all-optical method capable of direct [Hb] measurement of unprocessed blood samples. The method quantifies [Hb] in blood using the intrinsic PT response of hemoglobin molecules in erythrocytes. Under illumination by 532-nm light, Hb molecules absorb the light energy and produce heat. The resultant temperature rise changes the RI of the blood sample. The high RI sensitivity of BSI was exploited to measure this RI change in blood. Previously, we demonstrated that the PT-AS sensor enables [Hb] ...

A blood test is commonly performed to evaluate overall human health and to detect biomarkers related to certain diseases. For example, the cholesterol concentration in blood serves as a criterion for hyperlipidemia, which is closely related to cardiovascular diseases and pancreatitis. The blood glucose contents should be measured frequently, as the glucose level is associated with complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome. Serious illnesses such as malaria, human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome are diagnosed by blood examinations, and quantification of blood components including erythrocytes, thrombocytes, and leukocytes enables screening of pancreatic and renal diseases.
Hemoglobin (Hb), a critical component of blood, makes up about 96% of erythrocytes, and transports oxygen to human organs. Significant alteration of its mass concentration ([Hb]) may indicate metabolic changes, hepatobiliary disease, and neurological, cardiovascular and endocrinological disorders1. [Hb] is therefore routinely measured in blood tests. In particular, anemic patients, dialysis patients, and pregnant women are strongly recommended to monitor [Hb] as a vital task2.
Various [Hb] detection methods have thus been developed. The hemoglobin cyanide method, one of the most common techniques for [Hb] quantification, employs potassium cyanide (KCN) to destroy the lipid bilayer of erythrocytes3. The cyanide hemoglobin produced by the chemical exhibits high absorption around 540 nm; hence, [Hb] measurements can be made via colorimetric analysis. This method is widely employed owing to its simplicity, but the employed chemicals (e.g., KCN and dimethyllaurylamine oxide) are toxic to humans and the environment. The hematocrit scheme measures the volume ratio of red blood cells compared to the total blood volume through centrifugal separation; however it requires a relatively large blood volume (50-100 &#956;l)4. Spectrophotometry methods measure [Hb] precisely without any chemicals, but measurements at multiple wavelengths and a large blood volume are required5,6. Similarly, several optical methods for measuring [Hb] have been proposed including detection methods based on light-scattering, but their measurement accuracies depend strongly on the accuracy of the theoretical blood model.
To overcome these limitations, [Hb] detection methods based on the photothermal (PT) effect of Hb have recently been proposed7. Hb, which is composed mainly of iron oxides, absorbs light at 532 nm and converts the light energy into heat8-10. This PT temperature increase can be detected optically by measuring a change in the refractive index (RI) of blood samples. Yim et al. employed spectral-domain optical coherence reflectometry to measure the PT optical path-length change in a blood-containing chamber11. Although the method enables chemical-free and direct [Hb] measurement, the use of a spectrometer and an interferometric arrangement may hinder its miniaturization. We recently presented an alternative [Hb] detection method, termed photo-thermal angular light scattering (PT-AS) sensor, which is more suitable for device miniaturization12. The PT-AS sensor exploits the high RI sensitivity of the back-scattering interferometry (BSI) to measure PT changes in the RI of a blood sample inside a capillary tube. BSI have been utilized to measure RI of various solutions13-15 and to monitor biochemical interactions in free solution16. The PT-AS sensor employs similar optical arrangement as in BSI, but combines photothermal excitation setup to measure PT increase of RI in blood samples. Operating principles of the BSI and the PT-AS sensors are described in detail elsewhere12,15. PT-AS sensor demonstrated high-sensitivity [Hb] measurement over a wide detection range (0.35-17.9 g/dl) and is capable of operating with sample volumes of &#60;100 nl. No preconditioning of blood sample is required, and the measurement time is only ~5 sec. Here, the experimental setup and a detailed measurement protocol are described. Representative PT-AS results are provided using blood samples from anemic patients, and the results are compared against those from a hematology analyzer to assess the accuracy of the PT-AS sensor.

<table><tbody><tr><td>650 nm laser pointer</td><td>LASMAC</td><td>LED-1</td><td>Probe light</td></tr><tr><td>Hollow round glass capillaries</td><td>VitroCom</td><td>CV2033</td><td>Blood sample container</td></tr><tr><td>Webcam</td><td>Logitech</td><td>C525</td><td>CMOS optical sensor</td></tr><tr><td>Optical chopper system</td><td>Thorlabs</td><td>MC2000-EC</td><td>Optical chopper</td></tr><tr><td>Plastic long-pass filter</td><td>Edmund Optics</td><td>#43-942</td><td>To reject 532-nm PT excitation light</td></tr><tr><td>Fiber clamp</td><td>Thorlabs</td><td>SM1F1-250</td><td>Capillary tube fixture</td></tr><tr><td>EDTA coated blood sampling tube</td><td>Greiner Bio-One</td><td>VACUETTE 454217</td><td>Blood sampling &amp;amp; anticoagulating</td></tr><tr><td>Hematology analyzer</td><td>Siemens AG</td><td>ADVIA 2120i</td><td>Reference hematology analyzer</td></tr></tbody></table>

a rapid and chemical-free hemoglobin assay with photothermal angular light scattering

Photo-thermal angular light scattering (PT-AS) is a novel optical method for measuring the hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) of blood samples. On the basis of the intrinsic photothermal response of hemoglobin molecules, the sensor enables high-sensitivity, chemical-free measurement of [Hb]. [Hb] detection capability with a limit of 0.12 g/dl over the range of 0.35 - 17.9 g/dl has been demonstrated previously. The method can be readily implemented using inexpensive consumer electronic devices such as a laser pointer and a webcam. The use of a micro-capillary tube as a blood container also enables the hemoglobin assay with a nanoliter-scale blood volume and a low operating cost. Here, detailed instructions for the PT-AS optical setup and signal processing procedures are presented. Experimental protocols and representative results for blood samples in anemic conditions ([Hb] = 5.3, 7.5, and 9.9 g/dl) are also provided, and the measurements are compared with those from a hematology analyzer. Its simplicity in implementation and operation should enable its wide adoption in clinical laboratories and resource-limited settings.

A hemoglobin assay was performed using the PT-AS sensor, and its measurements were compared with those from a hematology analyzer. The experiment was conducted with a PT excitation light intensity of 1.4 W/cm2, PT modulation frequency of 2 Hz, and measurement time of 5 sec. Table 1 summarizes the experimental conditions. The beam sizes of the probe and PT excitation light were 5.5 and 2 mm, respectively. The webcam recorded the images at a frame rate of 30 fps....

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Rapid and Chemical-free Hemoglobin Assay with Photothermal Angular Light Scattering at JoVE.com

A Rapid and Chemical-free Hemoglobin Assay with Photothermal Angular Light Scattering

A photo-thermal angular light scattering (PT-AS) sensor enables the rapid and chemical-free hemoglobin assay of nanoliter-scale blood samples. Here, details of the PT-AS setup and a measurement protocol for the hemoglobin concentration in blood are provided. Representative results for anemic blood samples are also presented.

Photo-thermal angular light scattering (PT-AS) is a novel optical method for measuring the hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) of blood samples. On the basis ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

9.6K Views.  Yonsei University. A photo-thermal angular light scattering (PT-AS) sensor enables the rapid and chemical-free hemoglobin assay of nanoliter-scale blood samples. Here, details of the PT-AS setup and a measurement protocol for the hemoglobin concentration in blood are provided. Representative results for anemic blood samples are also presented.

Video: A Rapid and Chemical-free Hemoglobin Assay with Photothermal Angular Light Scattering

Antigens Protected Functional Red Blood Cells By The Membrane Grafting Of Compact Hyperbranched Polyglycerols

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is vital for the treatment of a number of acute and chronic medical problems such as thalassemia major and sickle cell anemia 1-3. Due to the presence of multitude of antigens on the RBC surface (~308 known antigens 4), patients in the chronic blood transfusion therapy develop alloantibodies due to the miss match of minor antigens on transfused RBCs 4, 5. Grafting of hydrophilic polymers such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG) forms an exclusion layer on RBC membrane that prevents the interaction of antibodies with surface antigens without affecting the passage of small molecules such as oxygen ,glucose, and ions3. At present no method is available for the generation of universal red blood donor cells in part because of the daunting challenge presented by the presence of large number of antigens (protein and carbohydrate based) on the RBC surface and the development of such methods will significantly improve transfusion safety, and dramatically improve the availability and use of RBCs. In this report, the experiments that are used to develop antigen protected functional RBCs by the membrane grafting of HPG and their characterization are presented. HPGs are highly biocompatible compact polymers 6, 7, and are expected to be located within the cell glycocalyx that surrounds the lipid membrane 8, 9 and mask RBC surface antigens10, 11.

The cell membrane modification of red blood cells (RBCs) with hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG) is presented. Modified RBCs were characterized by aqueous two phase partitioning, osmotic fragility and complement mediated lysis. The camouflage of surface proteins and antigens was evaluated using the flow cytometry and Micro Typing System (MTS) blood phenotyping cards.

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is vital for the treatment of a number of acute and chronic medical problems such as thalassemia major and sickle cell ...

Immunology and Infection

A Rhodopsin Transport Assay by High-Content Imaging Analysis

Rhodopsin misfolding mutations lead to rod photoreceptor death that is manifested as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive blinding disease that lacks effective treatment. We hypothesize that the cytotoxicity of the misfolded rhodopsin mutant can be alleviated by pharmacologically stabilizing the mutant rhodopsin protein. The P23H mutation, among the other Class II rhodopsin mutations, encodes a structurally unstable rhodopsin mutant protein that is accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), whereas the wild type rhodopsin is transported to the plasma membrane in mammalian cells. We previously performed a luminescence-based high-throughput screen (HTS) and identified a group of pharmacological chaperones that rescued the transport of the P23H rhodopsin from ER to the plasma membrane. Here, using an immunostaining method followed by a high-content imaging analysis, we quantified the mutant rhodopsin protein amount in the whole cell and on the plasma membrane. This method is informative and effective to identify true hits from false positives following HTS. Additionally, the high-content image analysis enabled us to quantify multiple parameters from a single experiment to evaluate the pharmacological properties of each compound. Using this assay, we analyzed the effect of 11 different compounds towards six RP associated rhodopsin mutants, obtaining a 2-D pharmacological profile for a quantitative and qualitative understanding about the structural stability of these rhodopsin mutants and efficacy of different compounds towards these mutants.

Here, we described a high-content imaging method to quantify the transport of rhodopsin mutants associated with retinitis pigmentosa. A multiple-wavelength scoring analysis was used to quantify rhodopsin protein on the cell surface or in the whole cell.

Rhodopsin misfolding mutations lead to rod photoreceptor death that is manifested as autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive blinding ...

Chemistry

Rapid Determination of Antibody-Antigen Affinity by Mass Photometry

Measurements of the specificity and affinity of antigen-antibody interactions are critically important for medical and research applications. In this protocol, we describe the implementation of a new single-molecule technique, mass photometry (MP), for this purpose. MP is a label- and immobilization-free technique that detects and quantifies molecular masses and populations of antibodies and antigen-antibody complexes on a single-molecule level. MP analyzes the antigen-antibody sample within minutes, allowing for the precise determination of the binding affinity and simultaneously providing information on the stoichiometry and the oligomeric state of the proteins. This is a simple and straightforward technique that requires only picomole quantities of protein and no expensive consumables. The same procedure can be used to study protein-protein binding for proteins with a molecular mass larger than 50 kDa. For multivalent protein interactions, the affinities of multiple binding sites can be obtained in a single measurement. However, the single-molecule mode of measurement and the lack of labeling imposes some experimental limitations. This method gives the best results when applied to measurements of sub-micromolar interaction affinities, antigens with a molecular mass of 20 kDa or larger, and relatively pure protein samples. We also describe the procedure for performing the required fitting and calculation steps using basic data analysis software.

We describe a single-molecule approach to antigen-antibody affinity measurements using mass photometry (MP). The MP-based protocol is fast, accurate, uses a very small amount of material, and does not require protein modification.

Measurements of the specificity and affinity of antigen-antibody interactions are critically important for medical and research applications. In this ...

Biochemistry

Time-resolved F&#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer Assays for Measurement of Endogenous Phosphorylated STAT Proteins in Human Cells

The Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in mediating cellular responses to cytokines and growth factors. STAT proteins are activated by tyrosine phosphorylation mediated mainly by JAKs. The abnormal activation of STAT signaling pathways is implicated in many human diseases, especially cancer and immune-related conditions. Therefore, the ability to monitor STAT protein phosphorylation within the native cell signaling environment is important for both academic and drug discovery research. The traditional assay formats available to quantify phosphorylated STAT proteins include western blotting and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). These heterogeneous methods are labor-intensive, low-throughput, and often not reliable (specific) in the case of western blotting. Homogeneous (no-wash) methods are available but remain expensive. 
Here, detailed protocols are provided for the sensitive, robust, and cost-effective measurement in a 384-well format of endogenous levels of phosphorylated STAT1 (Y701), STAT3 (Y705), STAT4 (Y693), STAT5 (Y694/Y699), and STAT6 (Y641) in cell lysates from adherent or suspension cells using the novel THUNDER time-resolved F&#246;rster resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) platform. The workflow for the cellular assay is simple, fast, and designed for high-throughput screening (HTS). The assay protocol is flexible, uses a low-volume sample (15 &#181;L), requires only one reagent addition step, and can be adapted to low-throughput and high-throughput applications. Each phospho-STAT sandwich immunoassay is validated under optimized conditions with known agonists and inhibitors and generates the expected pharmacology and Z'-factor values. As TR-FRET assays are ratiometric and require no washing steps, they provide much better reproducibility than traditional approaches. Together, this suite of assays provides new cost-effective tools for a more comprehensive analysis of specific phosphorylated STAT proteins following cell treatment and the screening and characterization of specific and selective modulators of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway.

Time-resolved F&#246;rster resonance energy transfer cell-based assay protocols are described for the simple, specific, sensitive, and robust quantification of endogenous phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1/3/4/5/6 proteins in cell lysates in a 384-well format.

The Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in mediating cellular responses to ...

Magnetic Levitation Coupled with Portable Imaging and Analysis for Disease Diagnostics

Currently, many clinical diagnostic procedures are complex, costly, inefficient, and inaccessible to a large population in the world. The requirements for specialized equipment and trained personnel require that many diagnostic tests be performed at remote, centralized clinical laboratories. Magnetic levitation is a simple yet powerful technique and can be applied to levitate cells, which are suspended in a paramagnetic solution and placed in a magnetic field, at a position determined by equilibrium between a magnetic force and a buoyancy force. Here, we present a versatile platform technology designed for point-of-care diagnostics which uses magnetic levitation coupled to microscopic imaging and automated analysis to determine the density distribution of a patient's cells as a useful diagnostic indicator. We present two platforms operating on this principle: (i) a smartphone-compatible version of the technology, where the built-in smartphone camera is used to image cells in the magnetic field and a smartphone application processes the images and to measures the density distribution of the cells and (ii) a self-contained version where a camera board is used to capture images and an embedded processing unit with attached thin-film-transistor (TFT) screen measures and displays the results. Demonstrated applications include: (i) measuring the altered distribution of a cell population with a disease phenotype compared to a healthy phenotype, which is applied to sickle cell disease diagnosis, and (ii) separation of different cell types based on their characteristic densities, which is applied to separate white blood cells from red blood cells for white blood cell cytometry. These applications, as well as future extensions of the essential density-based measurements enabled by this portable, user-friendly platform technology, will significantly enhance disease diagnostic capabilities at the point of care.

We present a magnetic levitation technique coupled with automated imaging and analysis in both a smartphone-compatible device and a device with embedded imaging and processing. This is applied to measure the density distribution of cells with two demonstrated biomedical applications: sickle cell disease diagnosis and separating white and red blood cells.

Currently, many clinical diagnostic procedures are complex, costly, inefficient, and inaccessible to a large population in the world. The requirements for ...

Rapid Homogeneous Detection of Biological Assays Using Magnetic Modulation Biosensing System

A magnetic modulation biosensing system (MMB) [1,2] rapidly and homogeneously detected biological targets at low concentrations without any washing or separation step. When the IL-8 target was present, a 'sandwich'-based assay attached magnetic beads with IL-8 capture antibody to streptavidin coupled fluorescent protein via the IL-8 target and a biotinylated IL-8 antibody. The magnetic beads are maneuvered into oscillatory motion by applying an alternating magnetic field gradient through two electromagnetic poles. The fluorescent proteins, which are attached to the magnetic beads are condensed into the detection area and their movement in and out of an orthogonal laser beam produces a periodic fluorescent signal that is demodulated using synchronous detection. The magnetic modulation biosensing system was previously used to detect the coding sequences of the non-structural Ibaraki virus protein 3 (NS3) complementary DNA (cDNA) [2]. The techniques that are demonstrated in this work for external manipulation and condensation of particles may be used for other applications, e.g. delivery of magnetically-coupled drugs in-vivo or enhancing the contrast for in-vivo imaging applications.

Magnetic modulation biosensing system is utilized to rapidly, sensitively and simply detect biological assays, such as DNA molecules and proteins.

A magnetic modulation biosensing system (MMB) [1,2] rapidly and homogeneously detected biological targets at low concentrations without any washing or ...

Biology

Simultaneous Evaluation of Cerebral Hemodynamics and Light Scattering Properties of the In Vivo Rat Brain Using Multispectral Diffuse Reflectance Imaging

The simultaneous evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics and the light scattering properties of in vivo rat brain tissue is demonstrated using a conventional multispectral diffuse reflectance imaging system. This system is constructed from a broadband white light source, a motorized filter wheel with a set of narrowband interference filters, a light guide, a collecting lens, a video zoom lens, and a monochromatic charged-coupled device (CCD) camera. An ellipsoidal cranial window is made in the skull bone of a rat under isoflurane anesthesia to capture in vivo multispectral diffuse reflectance images of the cortical surface. Regulation of the fraction of inspired oxygen using a gas mixture device enables the induction of different respiratory states such as normoxia, hyperoxia, and anoxia. A Monte Carlo simulation-based multiple regression analysis for the measured multispectral diffuse reflectance images at nine wavelengths (500, 520, 540, 560, 570, 580, 600, 730, and 760 nm) is then performed to visualize the two-dimensional maps of hemodynamics and the light scattering properties of the in vivo rat brain.

Simultaneous Evaluation of Cerebral Hemodynamics and Light Scattering Properties of the In Vivo Rat Brain Using Multispectral Diffuse Reflectance Imaging

The simultaneous evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics and the light scattering properties of in vivo rat brain tissue is demonstrated using a conventional multispectral diffuse reflectance imaging system.

The simultaneous evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics and the light scattering properties of in vivo rat brain tissue is demonstrated using a conventional ...

Neuroscience

A Precision Medicine Tool for Measurement and Monitoring of Hemoglobin S in Sickle Cell Disease Patients Receiving Transfusion Therapy

Sickle cell disease (SCD) causes many severe health complications, including anemia, stroke, and acute chest syndrome. Red blood cell transfusion is the most commonly used therapy to treat or prevent these devastating complications. Other therapies include hydroxyurea therapy as well as bone marrow transplantation. Chronic intermittent transfusion is especially indicated to prevent recurrent strokes. However, transfusion therapy is associated with significant adverse effects (e.g., alloimmunization and iron overload). The point-of-care (POC) lateral flow immunoassay used here quantifies the %HbS in 15 min using a small patient blood sample. Utilizing this information, the healthcare provider is able to adjust blood transfusion volume for SCD patients to achieve the desired target HbS (most often &#60;30%), while reducing the risk of transfusion-related complications. When compared to laboratory hemoglobin electrophoresis data for 38 whole blood samples, the POC test performed with very high correlation and linear fit (slope = 0.9949, R2 = 0.9751). The strong agreement between the two hemoglobin S percentage (%HbS) quantifying methods shows that 89.5% of samples fall within &#177;5.2% HbS bias. The calibration for quantifying %HbS is built into the device to allow for an automated quantification of %HbS. This time- and cost-effective POC test thus allows the healthcare provider to make timely informed decisions when treating SCD patients, using accurate and updated data.

We have developed a point-of-care immunoassay to rapidly quantify hemoglobin S (HbS) levels during transfusion therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. By applying a small amount of treated blood to the device, the healthcare provider can determine the %HbS in a SCD patient to immediately inform clinical decisions.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) causes many severe health complications, including anemia, stroke, and acute chest syndrome. Red blood cell transfusion is the ...

Medicine

Homogeneous Time-resolved F&#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer-based Assay for Detection of Insulin Secretion

The detection of insulin secretion is critical for elucidating mechanisms of regulated secretion as well as in studies of metabolism. Though numerous insulin assays have existed for decades, the recent advent of homogeneous time-resolved F&#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer (HTRF) technology has significantly simplified these measurements. This is a rapid, cost-effective, reproducible, and robust optical assay reliant upon antibodies conjugated to bright fluorophores with long lasting emission which facilitates time-resolved F&#246;rster Resonance Energy Transfer. Moreover, HTRF insulin detection is amenable for the development of high-throughput screening assays. Here we use HTRF to detect insulin secretion in INS-1E cells, a rat insulinoma-derived cell line. This allows us to estimate basal levels of insulin and their changes in response to glucose stimulation. In addition, we use this insulin detection system to confirm the role of dopamine as a negative regulator of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). In a similar manner, other dopamine D2-like receptor agonists, quinpirole, and bromocriptine, reduce GSIS in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results highlight the utility of the HTRF insulin assay format in determining the role of numerous drugs in GSIS and their pharmacological profiles.

Here, we present homogeneous time resolved FRET (HTRF) as an efficient method for rapid detection of insulin secreted from cells.

The detection of insulin secretion is critical for elucidating mechanisms of regulated secretion as well as in studies of metabolism. Though numerous ...

Optimizing VIS-SWIR Spectroscopy for Biological Molecules

Characterization of Biological Absorption Spectra Spanning the Visible to the Short-Wave Infrared

For noninvasive light-based physiological monitoring, optimal wavelengths of individual tissue components can be identified using absorption spectroscopy. However, because of the lack of sensitivity of hardware at longer wavelengths, absorption spectroscopy has typically been applied for wavelengths in the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) range from 400 to 1,000 nm. Hardware advancements in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) range have enabled investigators to explore wavelengths in the ~1,000 nm to 3,000 nm range in which fall characteristic absorption peaks for lipid, protein, and water. These molecules are difficult to visualize in the VIS-NIR and can provide label-free sources of biological contrast. Furthermore, lower SWIR absorption has been observed for melanin, the primary chromophore responsible for skin pigmentation. In vivo&#160;optical devices like clinically standard pulse oximeters have been found to have reduced accuracy in people with darkly pigmented skin, possibly because of the stronger melanin absorption in the VIS range. Thus, error associated with skin pigmentation could be reduced by using devices operating in the SWIR. Optical instrument design is facilitated by the understanding of the absorption properties of core tissue components from the VIS to the SWIR range. This article describes protocols and instrumentation for obtaining VIS-SWIR absorption spectra of common tissue absorbers: oxygenated hemoglobin, deoxygenated hemoglobin, melanin, water, and lipid.

Biological samples have distinct optical characteristics in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) compared to the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) wavelength ranges. However, recording pure SWIR absorption spectra is challenging and rarely conducted for biological molecules. This article presents a method to characterize the VIS-SWIR absorption spectra of biological absorbers.

For noninvasive light-based physiological monitoring, optimal wavelengths of individual tissue components can be identified using absorption spectroscopy. ...

A Rapid and Chemical-free Hemoglobin Assay with Photothermal Angular Light Scattering

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Magnetic Levitation Coupled with Portable Imaging and Analysis for Disease Diagnostics

Rapid Homogeneous Detection of Biological Assays Using Magnetic Modulation Biosensing System

Simultaneous Evaluation of Cerebral Hemodynamics and Light Scattering Properties of the In Vivo Rat Brain Using Multispectral Diffuse Reflectance Imaging

A Precision Medicine Tool for Measurement and Monitoring of Hemoglobin S in Sickle Cell Disease Patients Receiving Transfusion Therapy

Homogeneous Time-resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-based Assay for Detection of Insulin Secretion

Characterization of Biological Absorption Spectra Spanning the Visible to the Short-Wave Infrared