CLARITY (Clear Lipid-exchanged Acrylamide-hybridized Rigid Imaging/Immunostaining/In situ hybridization-compatible Tissue hYdrogel)

CLARITY is an acronym for Clear Lipid-exchanged Acrylamide-hybridized Rigid Imaging/Immunostaining/In situ hybridization-compatible Tissue hYdrogel. The technique uses chemical engineering and neuroscience technologies to make a brain transparent. Previously scientists were unable to see the whole of the brain at once. It involved slicing of the brain to see inside. Even though techniques such as MRI allowed scientists to see the inside of brain, the view is still obscured due to lipids or fat molecules. CLARITY helps in having a full view of inside of the brain including its molecular parts. Scientists developed a transparent hydrogel to replace lipids. This will make whole brain transparent and allows us to see the inside of the brain without slicing.

Significance of the technology

Scientists are already using the technology to study about the biological causes of drug addiction, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. For example, earlier scientists known that cocaine produces long-lasting memories called cocaine engrams that are responsible for addiction. But they don’t know where these memories are encoded and stored. Using CLRITY, the researchers found certain neurons becoming active when cocaine is administered. Doctors are also exploring in use of the technology to diagnose various other diseases in the body including cancer, infections, autoimmune disorders etc.