In vivo optical imaging is a molecular imaging technology that uses light-emitting agents to visualize and measure physiological and/or biological processes within small live laboratory animals such as mice and rats. Drug candidates, cells or biomarkers are labeled with a light emitting compound (a "reporter") that generates photons – fluorescence or bioluminescence.

Optical imaging is fast and easy to perform, and is relatively inexpensive compared to the other molecular imaging modalities. It is also quite sensitive. However, optical imaging has been limited by the penetration depth and poor, inconsistent spatial resolution and sensitivity, particularly at depth.

The fluorescence and bioluminescence system provided by the platform is an IVIS Spectrum system (PerkinElmer). 5 mice or 2 rats can be image at the same time.

The system is equipped with specific excitation and emission filters between 430 and 850 nm. These allow separating the signal from different fluorescent or bioluminescent sources within an animal (Spectral Unmixing). Moreover, our system is equipped with a multi-modal bed allowing the co-registration of bioluminescence/fluorescence images with CT images. Finally, thanks to specific algorithms, 3D reconstruction is also possible!

NEW: An imaging chamber for SPF-like mice is now available! Feel free to contact us for further information.

Our equipment

SPF-like imaging chamber for up to 5 mice