Fat-busting cell scanner among latest microscopy developments

The latest microscopy developments include a cell scanner designed to tackle obesity.

Using a software-based algorithm, the scanner detects individual fat cells and can study them over time, to see what effects any anti-fat treatments have on them.

The latest microscopy innovation is not the last, as Professor Amit Gefen of the Faculty of Engineering at Tel Aviv University, creator of the software, is looking at further possibilities.

His next stage of development is to introduce three-dimensional cell imaging using laser-based scanning.

"Good for studying fat, the fat-finder is also a general purpose tool," he says.

"It can save researchers time and money and help them answer questions in basic research and drug design."

The successful trials on animal subjects so far have led the professor to plan studies of human fat cells, with paraplegic patients a particular area of interest.

Dr Gefen's research also looks into the possibility of using artificially grown tissue to replace the need for animal testing.