Optimizing technical approaches of endoscopic confocal fluorescence microscopic (ECFM) combined with smart probing for small animal studies of the lung

我们的研究旨在开发一种新的成像方法，即基于探针的共聚焦内窥镜（pCLE），以优化小动物（如大鼠）的使用。pCLE包括将一个小的成像导管插入受试者体内，利用各种光来观察其器官。虽然这种方法已经可以用于人类，但临床研究和大型动物研究非常昂贵。因此，开发合适的工具，用这种新的成像方法进行小动物实验，将使我们能够释放其全部潜力。* * *的目标1。我们的研究将开发新的成像信标，当蛋白质存在时，或者当特定的细胞或分子机制活跃时，信标就会变亮。使用不同大小的信标可以同时检测多个机制。* * *的目标2。我们将开发两种方法来更好地定位这些信标被激活的位置。第一种方法将使我们能够检测到成像导管的位置，并将基于能够检测到来自动物外部的微弱信号的摄像机。第二种方法将包括突出显示大鼠肺部的结构。这将有助于更好地在其中导航，并识别我们正在成像的肺结构。* * *的目标3。我们将制造一种能够产生气溶胶的装置——液滴——然后将其送入大鼠肺部的特定区域。这个装置可以让我们发送这里开发的信标，以及任何其他感兴趣的分子，比如药物。药剂和药物的精确输送将有助于在小动物身上进行研究。***总的来说，这项研究将改进我们使用小动物模型进行pCLE实验的方式，减少所需动物的数量，并通过更有效地利用我们的资源来降低我们领域的研究成本。**

Our research aims at developing tools to optimize the use of small animals, such as rats, in the context of a new imaging method named probe-based confocal endomicroscopy (pCLE). pCLE consists of inserting a small imaging conduit inside a subject to visualize its organs, using various kinds of light. While this method can already be used in humans, clinical studies and studies in large animals are very expensive. Hence, developing appropriate tools to conduct small animal experiments with this new imaging method will allow us to unlock its full potential.***Aim 1. Our research will develop new imaging beacons that become bright when a protein is present, or when a specific cell or molecule mechanism is active. Using beacons of various sizes will enable the detecting several mechanisms at the same time.***Aim 2. We will develop two methods to better locate where these beacons are activated. The first method will enable us to detect where the imaging conduit is, and will be based on a camera capable of detecting faint signal from the outside of the animal. The second method will consist of highlighting structures in the rat lung. This will be useful to better navigate within it, and identify the lung structure we are imaging.***Aim 3. We will build a device capable of generating aerosols – liquid droplets – that will then be sent within a specific region of the rat lung. This device will allow us to send the beacons developed here, as well as any other molecule of interest, such as drugs. The precise delivery of agents and drugs will facilitate research in small animals.***Overall, this research will improve the way we use small animal models for pCLE experiments, reduce the number of animals needed, as well as cut the cost of research in our field by using our resources more efficiently. **