A Novel Technique for Generating and Observing Chemiluminescence in a Biological Setting

• Published in: Journal of visualized experiments no. 121
• Main Authors: Büchel, Gabriel E, Carney, Brandon, Tang, Jun, Zeglis, Brian M, Eppinger, Jörg, Reiner, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States MyJove Corporation 09-03-2017
• Subjects: Animals; Bioengineering; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; Female; Luminescence; Luminescent Measurements - methods; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; Models, Animal; Monitoring, Intraoperative - methods
• ISSN: 1940-087X; 1940-087X
• DOI: 10.3791/54694

Intraoperative imaging techniques have the potential to make surgical interventions safer and more effective; for these reasons, such techniques are quickly moving into the operating room. Here, we present a new approach that utilizes a technique not yet explored for intraoperative imaging: chemiluminescent imaging. This method employs a ruthenium-based chemiluminescent reporter along with a custom-built nebulizing system to produce ex vivo or in vivo images with high signal-to-noise ratios. The ruthenium-based reporter produces light following exposure to an aqueous oxidizing solution and re-reduction within the surrounding tissue. This method has allowed us to detect reporter concentrations as low as 6.9 pmol/cm
. In this work, we present a visual guide to our proof-of-concept in vivo studies involving subdermal and intravenous injections in mice. The results suggest that this technology is a promising candidate for further preclinical research and might ultimately become a useful tool in the operating room.