Ephoran Multi Imaging Solutions Preclinical Services is a contract research organization (CRO) located in the Bio Industry Park of Canavese at Colleretto Giacosa (Torino, Italy), offering preclinical Optical imaging services. These services are supplied by Ephoran allowing the evaluation of novel probe labelled with luminescence and NIR dyes in healthy and pathological animal models.
Optical imaging is emerging as a complement to nuclear imaging methods, being a relatively inexpensive, robust, and straightforward way of measuring different biological events. Two complementary optical imaging methods, bioluminescence and fluorescence, are particularly appropriate for Molecular Imaging. In bioluminescence, the light is autonomously supplied by a chemical reaction, requiring two agents: a light-producing substrate (usually luciferine) and an enzyme, luciferase (from the firefly or Renilla, respectively). The luciferase enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of luciferine, resulting in light emission. Fluorescence imaging uses organic (e.g. fluorescent proteins) or organic/inorganic hybrids (e.g. quantum dots) as exogenous contrast agents for in vivo imaging. In this case, the energy of an external light source is absorbed and re-emitted at a longer wavelength and at lower energy. In general, biological tissues exhibit a high photon absorbance in both the visible wavelength range (350-700 nm; secondary to haemoglobin, tissue pigments, and other sources) and in the infrared range (>900 nm; secondary to lipids and water).
However, in the NIR region (700-900 nm) the absorbance of spectra for all biomolecules reach minima. Hence, NIR fluorescence light offers a unique advantage for the imaging of physiological states. The use of NIR wavelengths in imaging permits relatively deep photon penetration into tissue, minimal autofluorescence, less scatter, and high optical contrast when exogenous NIR fluorophores are introduced. Optical imaging is a non invasive technology allowing to visualize molecular events in real-time and over time in the same animal, providing an optimal tool for studying tumor physiology, metastasis pattern, and tumor response to drug treatment. The instruments endowed within the laboratory allow for the visualization of molecular and cellular processes both in vitro and in vivo, in small model organisms, supporting basic research as well as preclinical applications. The laboratory, therefore, is a resource both for a detailed understanding of biological and pathological events within the organism, and for the development of new targeted therapeutic approaches at the molecular level.
The Optical Imaging Facility is equipped with imaging systems for the detection of luminescent and fluorescent signals in cultured bacterial and eukaryotic cells, in plants, in mice and in rats. A system for luminescence and fluorescence and an advanced TD (Time-Domain) Optical Imaging system for Near Infrared Red imaging allowing for reconstruction and quantification are available.
Ephoran has developed strong and qualified scientific collaborations with academia and research institutions in order to develop state-of-the-art molecular and preclinical imaging in cells and laboratory animals.