For the first time scientists are using a new technology to see cancer cells from the inside

Scientists have identified a new imaging technique that allows them to 'see' inside a single living cancer cell and observe how it interacts with its surroundings.

The team, led by the University of Surrey in Britain, sought to view and study the fatty contents found inside cancer cells.

Fats are major components of cells, and they specifically allow cancer cells to grow, reproduce and spread.

This technology was developed in cooperation with University College London and involves the pharmaceutical company GSK, Yokogawa and Sciex.

Using Yokogawa's SS2000 Single Cell System, individual tumor cells were sampled from a glass laboratory culture dish.

This innovative system extracts single living cells using small tubes, allowing precise analysis. These tubes are 10 microns wide, half the diameter of the thinnest human hair.

In the next step, these cells were stained with a fluorescent dye, enabling the scientists to monitor the lipid droplets throughout the experiment.

After this extensive procedure, the team collaborated with Sciex to create a new approach to mass spectrometry. This method allowed them to break down the fats and determine the actual composition of the cell.

This entire process led to the observation of how cancer cells develop in response to changes in their surroundings.

Joanna von Gerichten, from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the University of Surrey, said the problem with cancer cells is that “no two are alike. This makes it difficult to design a good treatment, because some cells will always be more resistant to treatment than others. However, it has always been proven that "It's difficult to study living cells after they've been removed from their natural environment, in enough detail to really understand their structure. That's why it's so exciting to be able to take samples of living cells under the microscope and study their lipid contents one by one."

The results could provide insight into how cells respond to radiation.

Scientists used this newly discovered approach to analyze fatty molecules within many cancer cells. Interestingly, scientists have identified differences in the lipid profiles of different cells.

“Our new approach paves the way to study cancer cells in detail we have never seen before,” Carla Newman, associate director of cellular imaging and dynamics at GlaxoSmithKline, said in a press release. “One day, we may be able to see how individual cancer cells communicate with each other.” "And this may lead to the launch of new, more targeted treatments."

This technology could provide valuable insights into how different types of cancer respond to treatments. It may also help doctors understand the effect of irradiation (exposure to radiation) on cells, specifically how some cancer cells resist radiation therapy. This resistance may lead to cancer relapse.

A deeper understanding of cancer biology may lead to the development of more effective treatments in the future.

The results were published in the journal Analytical Chemistry .