FURI | Spring 2021

Transfecting B35 Neuroblastoma Cells with Near Infrared Protein for Photoacoustic Detection

Viewing biological processes at depth in tissues is essential for the study and diagnosis of neurodegenerative and neurological diseases. Despite recent advancements, current optical techniques are restricted to an imaging depth of ~1mm due to the scattering of light in tissues. In combination with near-infrared fluorescent proteins (IRFP), photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) systems can use light and sound to image specific cell types deeper in biological tissues than traditional optical microscopy methods. The overarching goal of this research is to isolate a monoclonal cell line expressing IRFP to validate a custom PAM system for depths beyond current optical-based microscopes.