CalTech researchers, led by professor Viviana Gradinaru, have developed a chemical treatment that makes an entire organism (in this case, a mouse) transparent. The goal is to help scientists study organs and tissues in the lab, which could help diagnose illnesses in humans.
Professor Gradinaru believes the most significant application will be in neuroscience, as researchers could see high-resolution tissue imaging without slicing.
The study shows that by pumping a detergent and gel through an animal’s circulatory system, one can quickly make an entire body transparent and ready for research. In mice, most organs were cleared in two days, with the entire body clear in two weeks.
Labs have begun using the lipid-clearing technique on tissue from human biopsies. According to Gradinaru, using the technique to detect cancerous cells is next.