Common Food Dye Found to Make Skin and Muscle Temporarily Transparent

Scientists have discovered that a common food dye can make skin and muscle temporarily transparent, allowing doctors to see inside the body without surgery.

The dye, called indocyanine green (ICG), is already used to visualize blood flow during surgery. In a new study, researchers found that ICG can also be used to make skin and muscle transparent, allowing doctors to see inside the body without surgery.

The study was conducted on mice, but the researchers believe that the findings could have implications for human medicine. They say that ICG could be used to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

"This is a major breakthrough that could have a significant impact on the way we diagnose and treat disease," said lead researcher Dr. Brian Pogue, a professor of biomedical engineering at Dartmouth College.

The researchers believe that ICG could be used to create a new type of imaging scanner that would allow doctors to see inside the body without surgery. This could be especially useful for diagnosing and treating cancer, as it would allow doctors to see tumors without having to remove them.

The researchers are now working on developing a human version of the ICG scanner. They hope to begin clinical trials within the next few years.

How does ICG make skin and muscle transparent?

1. ICG is a dye that absorbs near-infrared light.
2. When ICG is injected into the body, it binds to proteins in the skin and muscle.
3. When near-infrared light is shone on the skin, the ICG absorbs the light and emits it as visible light.
4. The visible light can then be used to create images of the skin and muscle.

What are the potential applications of ICG in medicine?

1. ICG could be used to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
2. ICG could be used to create a new type of imaging scanner that would allow doctors to see inside the body without surgery.
3. ICG could be used to develop new treatments for cancer and other diseases.

Conclusion

The discovery that ICG can make skin and muscle transparent is a major breakthrough that could have a significant impact on the way we diagnose and treat disease. Researchers are now working on developing a human version of the ICG scanner, and they hope to begin clinical trials within the next few years.