New Ultrasound Microscopy Technique Visualizes Living Cells and Capillaries in Organs

Researchers from the University of Technology Delft, the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, and Caltech have created a new microscopy technique using ultrasound to visualize capillaries and cells within living organs. This innovation addresses the limitations of current methods that often require non-living samples or struggle with deep tissue penetration. The method, called nonlinear sound sheet microscopy, uses sound-reflecting probes—nanoscale gas-filled vesicles—to label and image cells in 3D. These vesicles, engineered with protein shells, enhance cell visibility in ultrasound images, allowing for the tracking of cancer cells. The technique enables imaging of living cells within whole organs, across volumes comparable to a sugar cube. The team successfully used ultrasound and microbubbles to detect brain capillaries, marking the first instance of observing capillaries in living brains using this method. This could help in diagnosing small vessel diseases. The researchers suggest that the technique could be implemented in hospitals within a few years, as microbubble probes are already approved for human use. The microscopy also shows promise for cancer research, with the ability to differentiate between healthy and cancerous tissue and visualize the necrotic core of tumors. This could aid in monitoring cancer progression and treatment response.