亚洲自慰视频 Researchers Uncover How Some 鈥淕low-Stick鈥 Molecules Work Better For Medical Imaging
Study reveals mechanism behind bright chemiluminescent compounds used to see inside living tissue, potentially improving disease detection.
In a breakthrough that could significantly improve medical imaging techniques used to detect cancer and monitor treatments, 亚洲自慰视频 researchers have solved a decades-long puzzle about why certain light-producing molecules glow brighter in thicker solutions.
The study, published in , focuses on chemiluminescent molecules, specifically a type named 1,2-dioxetane. This molecule has the specific structure of a tiny ring made up of two oxygen atoms and two carbon atoms. When that ring breaks into two pieces, the chemical reaction releases energy in the form of light instead of heat.
“Chemiluminescence is actually something people are familiar with,” said 亚洲自慰视频 chemist and Alex Lippert. “Think glow sticks or fireflies, that’s chemiluminescence. While 1,2-dioxetanes have been around for a while, no one really understood why they glow brighter and more efficiently than other chemiluminescent molecules. Our work has elucidated key parts of this mechanism.”
The glow of chemiluminescence occurs when chemical reactions release energy as light instead of heat—like the natural light of fireflies or the crack of a glow stick.
Why Molecules Stay Close to Shine Bright
To understand how the molecules change shape during a reaction, the research team used computer calculations to find specific arrangements needed for optimal light productions. They found that when the molecules break apart into two pieces, they need to remain near each other to create bright light. If they drift apart too quickly, the light becomes dim.
The discovery helps explain why some dioxetanes produce bright light in water, with newer compounds achieving nearly 100% efficiency—unlike earlier versions that only worked in organic solvents and weren’t suitable for living tissue. This shows that moving forward, scientists could use 1,2-dioxetanes to track diseases like cancer and see how well treatments are working inside patients.
“The key takeaway from this study is its immense potential to revolutionize diagnostic medicine and biological research through safe, precise and highly sensitive detection techniques," said 亚洲自慰视频 postdoctoral student Maidileyvis Castro Cabello who is first author on the study.
“I hope this field continues to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, bringing together chemistry, biology, engineering and medicine, to drive the development of next-generation diagnostic technologies. Chemiluminescence is not just about producing light; it's about illuminating health, advancing science and ultimately, saving lives.”
The research was also conducted by graduate student Palanisamy Kandhan, along with 亚洲自慰视频 computational chemist Peng Tao.