A team of scientists has made a significant breakthrough in making the skin of laboratory mice transparent, an innovation that opens up new possibilities for biomedical research and the study of diseases in living organisms. This discovery could transform the way researchers observe and analyze biological processessuch as tumor formation, wound healing and organ development, without resorting to invasive procedures.
The process, published in scientific reviewis based on the topical application of a food coloring. The procedure for making the skin of mice transparent is based on tissue clearing techniques. This method involves removing or transforming the opaque components of tissues.such as lipids, without compromising the integrity of the underlying cells or tissues. The researchers managed to make the mouse skin almost completely transparent, allowing internal structures to be observed without opening or damaging the animal’s body.
One dye that scientists identified as particularly effective was tartrazinebetter known as FD&C Yellow 5a common additive in products such as soft drinks, desserts, mustard sauces and potato chips. When dissolved in water and absorbed into tissues, tartrazine molecules align precisely with the refractive indices of the tissue, preventing light from scattering.
So, the scientists began their experiments using thin sheets of chicken breast. By gradually increasing the concentration of tartrazinemanaged to get the fluid in the muscle cells to adjust its refractive index until it matched that of the tissue proteins. Thanks to this optical coincidence, the chicken samples became completely transparent.
The use of these products, used in food, helps to eliminate lipids that normally scatter light and cause opacity. At the same time, proteins and other cellular structures are preserved, which is crucial for maintaining tissue functionality during observation. The result is transparent skin, through which tissues, blood vessels and even cellular activity can be visualized in real time, all without interfering with the body’s normal physiology.
biomedical research
This advance offers a wide range of applications in biomedical research. By allowing the observation of tissues in their natural state and in a living organism, scientists can study dynamic processes with an unprecedented level of detail. Some of the areas that will directly benefit from this technique include:
Oncology: By making the mice’s skin transparent, the researchers were able to visualize tumor growth in real time and from the earliest stages of development. This will make it easier to analyze how tumor cells invade surrounding tissue and how the blood vessels that feed tumors form in the future, which could speed up the development of anticancer therapies.
Wound healing research: This technique will allow the entire wound healing process to be followed, from initial inflammation to tissue regeneration. This is particularly useful for studying the behavior of different cell types, such as fibroblasts, during tissue repair.
Embryonic development and tissue regeneration: By making the inside of the body visible, researchers can observe the development of organs and tissues in mice, which is essential for understanding how biological systems form and organize themselves. In addition, it offers a tool for studying tissue regeneration, which has implications for regenerative medicine research.
Neurosciences: Tissue clarification can also be applied to the study of the nervous system, allowing scientists to observe the network of neurons and their interaction in a living environment. This opens up the possibility of analyzing the development of neurodegenerative diseases or the effects of different drugs on the brain.
Disease research
One of the most exciting aspects of this advance is its potential to improve our understanding of complex diseases, as mentioned Guosong Hong, head of the study. By being able to observe the cellular behavior in an organism alive without resorting to invasive procedures, scientists will be able to identify the first types of diseases and how different cells respond to treatments.
For example, in the study of diseases such as cancer, diabetes or arteriosclerosis, This technique could facilitate real-time monitoring of the effects of new drug treatments. In addition, by studying how organs and systems interact with each other during development or tissue damage, scientists could develop more precise and effective therapeutic approaches.
Challenges and future applications
Although this discovery represents a significant advance, its application to other organisms, particularly humans, presents challenges.. Human skin is thicker and more complex than mouse skin, which would require adaptations of this technique. In addition, there are limitations in terms of the durability of tissue transparency and its reversibility, with current treatments being more suited to short-term observations.
However, scientists are already working to improve the technique and explore its application in other animal models. In the long term, it is expected that these types of advances will allow the development three-dimensional models transparent samples of human organs to study diseases without resorting to surgery or biopsies, which would revolutionize diagnostic medicine.
