What is CLEAR Technology?

About CLEAR Technology:

• Cleavable Light-Erased Antibody Reporter (CLEAR) is a novel imaging platform that could significantly improve the visualization and mapping of proteins within biological samples.
• It was developed by researchers at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR).
• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science also collaborated in demonstrating the technology in complex biological settings, particularly immune cell systems.
• CLEAR technology enables scientists to visualize a large number of proteins within the same biological sample using a single fluorescent marker, overcoming a major challenge in spatial protein mapping.
• The scientists introduced a light-cleavable probe system that allows repeated cycles of protein labelling and imaging within the same spectral window.
• After imaging a set of proteins, the fluorescent signal can be erased using a gentle pulse of 365 nm LED light, enabling researchers to label and image a new set of proteins in the same cell.
• It allows increasingly detailed protein maps to be generated across specimens ranging from single cells to complex tissue sections.
• Unlike existing multiplex imaging methods, CLEAR combines high multiplexing capability with speed, spatial resolution, and compatibility with delicate biological samples, including live cells.
• The technology has the potential to improve early disease detection, particularly in cancers and neurological disorders, while also helping researchers better understand immune responses and cellular behaviour.
• In the long term, the platform could contribute to precision medicine by enabling detailed molecular analysis that can support targeted therapies and personalized treatment approaches.