Researchers have reported a new nondestructive imaging technique that can track the health and metabolic state of immune cells in blood samples, a development that could strengthen how clinicians monitor cancers and immune-related conditions.
Why the method matters for patient care
The work focuses on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or PBMCs, which are commonly isolated from a standard blood draw and already used in clinical workflows. According to the report, the approach may help improve diagnosis and treatment for conditions such as blood cancers, lupus, sepsis and cognitive decline.
The study also points to possible uses in CAR T cell therapy, where a patient’s own immune cells are engineered to fight certain cancers. By giving clinicians more detailed information about immune cell function without destroying the sample, the method could add context beyond routine cell counts.
How the technique works
The team used optical metabolic imaging, or OMI, to examine undifferentiated PBMCs from donated blood. The method relies on a sensitive microscope and two long-wavelength photons to excite the natural fluorescence of cell metabolism products, allowing researchers to distinguish whether cells are metabolically active or quiescent.
In the study, the researchers said the technique identified metabolic state with 93% accuracy just two hours after stimulation. It also identified quiescent monocytes with 96% accuracy, activated monocytes with 88% accuracy, and natural killer cells in both states with 74% accuracy.
Unlike label-based techniques, the new approach preserves the sample for later use. As the researchers noted, that could be especially useful when additional testing or downstream processing is needed.
Potential clinical uses are still emerging
The researchers said the next step is to work with hospital collaborators to develop clinical applications. They hope the technique could eventually help assess whether immune cells are fit before being used in therapies.
For now, the findings suggest that nondestructive imaging may offer a more detailed view of immune behavior inside mixed blood samples. That could be particularly valuable when different cell types show different levels of activity, something that bulk testing might miss.
The research was published in News Medical and describes how a label-free metabolic method could broaden the way clinicians and researchers evaluate immune cells in future care.
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