Overview

• MiROM applies mid-infrared–induced optoacoustic signals to detect protein structural changes in single cells without labels.
• In doxorubicin-treated multiple myeloma cultures, the method pinpointed beta-sheet formation and apoptosis as markers of treatment response.
• The label-free approach demands minimal sample volume and delivers near-real-time assessments compared to conventional bulk analyses.
• Developers envisage using MiROM to monitor protein misfolding in disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
• Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the research now advances toward larger patient cohort trials aimed at clinical integration.