Luminescence enhancing beads for bio-imaging

• Main Authors: ZWI NISAN BERNEMAN, GEOFREY DE VISSCHER, NATHALIE DE VOCHT, ANNE-MARIE VAN DER LINDEN, PETER PONSAERTS
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.11.2011
• Subjects: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; TESTING

An optical enhancer system comprises fluid filled beads that alter the optical properties of cells that engulf the beads resulting in enhancement of a non bead related bioluminescent signal. The beads have low light scattering properties and when added to a high scattering medium they enhance light travel in a direction toward a light detector rather than scatter light away from a detector. The beads or particles comprise microspheres with an outer membrane and an inner core of low light scattering medium such as an optically translucent solution or gas. The optical enhancer beads are used for bioluminescence measurements of cells both in vivo and in vitro. Larger samples or fewer cells may be imaged as the luminescent signal is more focused on the detector.