Context
Recently, researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) with contributions from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) developed CLEAR (Cleavable Light-Erased Antibody Reporter), a new imaging platform that enables detailed protein mapping within cells and tissues in biological samples and holds promise for biomedical research and precision medicine.
About CLEAR (Cleavable Light-Erased Antibody Reporter) Technology
- The platform enables imaging of multiple proteins within a single sample using a single fluorescent marker, overcoming a major challenge in spatial protein mapping.
- It employs a light-cleavable probe system that allows repeated cycles of protein labelling and imaging within the same spectral window.
- The fluorescent signal can be erased using a 365 nm LED light pulse, enabling successive rounds of protein analysis in the same sample.
Significance
- Facilitates the generation of high-resolution protein maps across specimens ranging from single cells to complex tissue sections.
- Combines high multiplexing capability, speed, spatial resolution, and compatibility with live biological samples, unlike conventional multiplex imaging methods.
- Holds potential for the early detection of cancers and neurological disorders.
- Enhances understanding of immune responses and cellular behaviour, supporting advanced biomedical research.
- Can contribute to precision medicine through detailed molecular profiling for targeted and personalised therapies.
