Non-invasive thermometer uses fluorescent proteins to measure cell temperatures

A team from the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) in Spain has developed a novel non-invasive cellular thermometer. The method uses green fluorescent proteins (GFP) to measure intracellular temperature without altering the metabolism or processes of the cells. The GFP method eliminates the need to disrupt the cell by inserting foreign objects into it. "A unique characteristic of our method is that it does not alter any cellular process," Romain Quidant, ICFO researcher and study coordinator, said. By measuring the internal temperature of cells, scientists can observe how energy is used by the body during the uncontrolled spread of cancer cells. It could also be useful in distinguishing healthy cells from cancerous ones and understanding cellular processes.