Development of a novel SPR based technique as means to study bio-recognition processes in living cells (Yissum)

New monitoring method for studying dynamic processes in living cells without the use of fluorescent, radioactive or other chemical labels that may alter physiological activity
IR-based SPR enables research such as measurement of concentrations of glucose in red blood cells, real-time study of lipid membranes of cells cultured on gold films and drug and protein penetration into cells,.
Main results: Cell morphology changes upon interaction with drugs; human melanoma cells MEL1106, A431 cells, MDCK cells, HeLa cells, Ferrotransferrin injection
Applications in single-cell-based diagnosis of human pathological conditions and for profiling custom tailored targeted therapiesSurface plasmon resonance (SPR), wave-guide modes, and a Fourier-transform-infrared spectrometer (FTIR) are employed in a new optical tool for studying real-time changes inside and on the surface of living cells. The observation of wave-guide modes in live cell monolayer film is possible because the infra-red wavelength is of the order of the cell height. The guided modes provide information on the cell morphology.

Biochemical and cell based drug discovery applications
The system offers developers the ability to evaluate promising new drug candidates and targets.
Tool for future drug discovery and advanced diagnostic methods

Direct observations of biological interactions in the living cell, enabling observation of interactions not previously detectable.
Enables continuous follow up of intracellular dynamic events without the need to label the interacting molecules or to kill the studied cells.
Useful for the detection of bio-molecules in living cells based on their spectral fingerprints (not possible in the visible range)
Cells do not suffer photo damage or photo toxicity induced by IR radiation

19-2006-412

Israel