Portable two-color in vivo flow cytometer for real-time detection of fluorescently-labeled circulating cells

J Biomed Opt. 2007 Mar-Apr;12(2):020507. doi: 10.1117/1.2722733.

Abstract

The recent introduction of the in vivo flow cytometer for real-time, noninvasive detection and quantification of cells circulating in the vasculature of small animals has provided a powerful tool for tracking the roles of different types of cells in disease progression. We describe a portable version of the device, which provides the capability to: a) excite and detect fluorescence at two distinct colors simultaneously, and b) perform data analysis in real time. These advances improve significantly the utility of the instrument and provide a means of increasing detection specificity. As examples, we present the depletion kinetics of circulating green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled breast cancer cells in the vasculature of mice, and the specific detection of circulating hematopoietic stem cells labeled in vivo with two antibodies.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Separation / instrumentation*
  • Cell Separation / methods
  • Computer Systems
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Flow Cytometry / instrumentation*
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / methods
  • Miniaturization
  • Staining and Labeling / methods

Substances

  • Green Fluorescent Proteins