Researchers at the University of Bath have created fluorescent molecular probes capable of tracking glucose fluctuations inside living organisms in real time. The probes use boronic acids — chemicals that selectively bind to sugars — paired with an advanced imaging technique called multiphoton fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (MP-FLIM), which maps how cells absorb and use sugars by measuring subtle changes in fluorescence signals rather than just brightness.

The technology was tested in zebrafish larvae, a common model for metabolic research. The probes accumulated in the digestive systems of the larvae and responded to glucose challenges — and crucially, they were able to distinguish insulin-deficient (diabetic) zebrafish from healthy ones, with diabetic fish showing reduced fluorescence due to elevated glucose levels.

Beyond diabetes, the researchers believe the platform could be adapted to detect other metabolic markers, potentially supporting earlier cancer diagnosis and drug screening.

Key Takeaways:

• Probes work in both cultured cells and living vertebrate organisms, bridging lab and in vivo research
• MP-FLIM imaging enables real-time, cell-level visualization of sugar metabolism — a major leap over current monitoring methods
• The platform may be expanded for combined therapy and diagnostics applications, as well as future drug-screening tools

Why it matters: Monitoring glucose inside living tissues has long been a scientific challenge. This technology could give researchers an unprecedented window into metabolic disease, accelerating the path to better diagnostics and treatments for diabetes and cancer.