Reacción a "New technique succeeds in making living animal tissue transparent"

The study is original in that it uses an initially innocuous topically applied dye that 'transparentizes' the skin and peritoneum, leaving visible, above all, muscles and vasculature. The characterization of the tested molecules and the optical tests are of very high quality. In particular, it is easier to see the muscles and vasculature of the organs under the 'window'.

The novelty is the substance used and its use in vivo. This has advantages for preclinical experimentation and surgical models, since it can facilitate the localization of vessels and muscles, which would make it possible to reduce the invasiveness of certain surgeries; invasive procedures such as cutting the skin and manipulating muscles, vessels and organs would be avoided.

One of the limitations lies in not knowing the toxicity of this compound in vivo, collateral effects and medium and long-term effects. The amount of tetrazine in feces and urine has been quantified, but more complete studies are lacking in terms of possible damage to organs under the optical sale created and recovery of the skin.