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Cryo-Fluorescence Tomography

See exactly where your molecule goes in 3D

Open in EMIT Viewer

Cryo-Fluorescence Tomography (CFT) is an ex vivo, volumetric imaging technique that maps drug distribution and protein expression across an entire animal or tissue sample at high resolution and high sensitivity. EMIT Imaging offers it two ways: the Xerra™ platform for your lab, or fee-for-service imaging run by our scientists.

20–55 µm
Slice resolution
Single-nanomolar
Sensitivity
Up to 6
Multiplexed channels

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What is Cryo-Fluorescence Tomography?

Cryo-Fluorescence Tomography closes the gap between in vivo imaging and molecular assays. It maps fluorescent signal across the entire sample at sub-organ level resolution, giving you a dataset that connects directly to the histology, biodistribution, or endpoint data your team already generates.

CFT integrates into the workflows you already run. For teams that prefer a fully managed path, EMIT and our partners can handle sample preparation and logistics, so your existing workflow feeds directly into CFT without added overhead on your end.

A frozen sample comprised of a whole animal or multiple individual tissues, is sectioned one thin layer at a time. After each cut, the exposed block face is imaged, and the images are reconstructed into a complete 3D dataset of anatomy and fluorescent signal. Nothing is preselected, so instead of choosing which organs to investigate, you image everything, avoiding tissue bias, and decide where to look afterward.

Watch: Introduction to Cryo-Fluorescence Tomography (CFT) in this 2 minute overview.

What the data looks like

Explore CFT Data

Whole-body mouse, CNS signal in 3D
Cardiac gene therapy dataset in the EMIT ViewerOpen in EMIT Viewer →
Cryo-Fluorescence Tomography dataset shown in three orthogonal views
Left to Right: CFT Visualization of Anatomy, Molecular Signal, and Co-Registered Overlay
EASY CFT DATA VISUALIZATION

Every CFT service project includes access to the EMIT Viewer

CFT data visualization has never been easier with tools like the EMIT Viewer (web) and the EMIT Viewer Pro (desktop). Sample the EMIT Viewer with real datasets! 

Two ways to access CFT

Bring CFT in-house, or send us your samples

Fee-for-service

CFT services, run by our scientists

EMIT Imaging performs CFT fee-for-service research in-house at our labs in Natick, MA. Freeze your samples, ship them directly to us, and let EMIT handle the rest, from preparation and acquisition to analysis.

  • Best for a pilot studies and one-off projects
  • No capital purchase and no method development
  • Study design support from CFT specialists, including diet selection
Instrumentation

Xerra™, the CFT platform

Our flagship preclinical imaging platform fully automates the CFT workflow, so your team can run samples in-house with ease. Sectioning, imaging, reconstruction, and analysis in one instrument, with unmatched visualization of biodistribution in whole animals and tissue samples.

  • Best when CFT becomes a routine part of your pipeline
  • Samples and data never leave your facility
  • Full control of study timing and throughput

Not sure which fits? Most groups start with a service study and move to Xerra™ once CFT is part of the routine. Tell us about your study and we will advise.

The evidence

CFT is a published, peer-reviewed method

Researchers have used CFT and Xerra™ across oncology and immunotherapy, drug discovery and delivery, gene and cell therapy, neuroscience, and antibody-drug conjugates. The full library of papers, case studies and posters is open to browse.

Browse the resource library →

Discover More with Cryo-Fluorescence Tomography

Tell us about your study and a CFT scientist will follow up with you.

Talk to a CFT scientist