Blending Imaging Techniques to Create a Molecular Microscope

According to a paper recently published in the journal Nature Methods, Vanderbilt University researchers have achieved the first image fusion of mass spectrometry and microscopy. Combining the best features of both imaging modalities allows scientists to see the molecular make-up of tissues in high resolution — technology that may improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Using a mathematical approach called regression analysis, the researchers mapped each pixel of mass spectrometry data onto the corresponding spot on the microscopy image to produce a new, “predicted” image. The introduction of this technology, essentially a “molecular microscope,” helps reveal the function of these molecules and how function is changed by diseases like cancer. The senior author of the paper suggests that the technique could redefine the surgical margin. To learn more about this study, click here.