A brand new state-of-the-art technique that measures the quantities of medicine and lipids (fat) in particular person cells might assist well being professionals goal simpler remedies for illnesses akin to tuberculosis (TB).
Researchers from the College of Surrey have been capable of isolate particular person residing cells that contained medication generally used to deal with TB and located that every cell absorbed the drug in another way, and every cell had a singular lipid “fingerprint”.
There was a giant variation in how a lot drug was present in every cell – this means that completely different cells take up medication in another way. This might show vital to enhancing our understanding of life-saving remedies – not just for TB however for different infectious illnesses and most cancers too.”
Dr Holly-Could Lewis, first creator of the examine, College of Surrey
Within the examine, the Surrey researchers demonstrated the usage of a method known as nanocapillary sampling, the place scientists use a microscopic device to lure particular person cells. The researchers then used one other approach, liquid chromatography, to exactly measure the degrees of medicine and lipids.
Professor Melanie Bailey, corresponding creator of the examine from the College of Surrey, mentioned:
“Surrey is likely one of the few locations within the nation the place it is attainable to experiment with these cutting-edge measuring strategies. We not too long ago secured funding to determine a nationwide analysis facility that can assist researchers from the UK to make single cell measurements. If we’re ever capable of develop efficient therapeutic strategies to deal with devastating illnesses or struggle the pandemics of the longer term, extra out-of-box scientific pondering like that is wanted.”
The analysis has been printed within the journal Analyst.
sources:
Journal reference:
Lewis, H.M., et al. (2023) Nanocapillary sampling coupled to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry delivers single cell drug measurement and lipid fingerprints. analyst. doi.org/10.1039/D2AN01732F.
