Cellular functional image using Hyperspectral technology for application to regenerative medicine

Hyperspectral imaging devices are common in remote sensing reconnaissance technology. It captures both spatial and spectral information in a single pixel. Hyperspectral imaging collects the same picture on many bands of the spectrum to generate a "datacube" that can identify the materials that make up an imaging target. Hyperspectral imaging technique has an advance in molecular imaging for high-throughput evaluation using target-specific optically imaging probes and/or using intrinsic optical property. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of the hyperspectral imaging technology for cellular functional evaluation to determine the effectiveness and validity of the regenerative medicine. Hyperspectral imaging system was developed for minute scale imaging with high resolution using relay lens, combination of lenses to magnify the image. Various cultured cells in monolayer were used as imaging target. Hyperspectral imaging has been finally achieved by improvements in spatial resolution up to 9 mu m with the spectral resolution of 1.2 nm. In order to apply this developed hyperspectral imaging system for validation of regenerative medicine, Hyperspectral imaging system performed during the process of differentiation and dedifferentiation and the process of spheroid formation as 3D culture model. Changes of cellular condition enabled to produce significant changes in the observed spectrum. Therefore, hyperspectral imaging is revealed to have a significant potential to evaluate cellular function.