Mitochondrial Function and Metabolic States: On the Differences between Brain In Vitro and In Vivo Conditions and Monitoring

Although mitochondria were discovered more than 150 years ago, monitoring of mitochondrial function in-patients in real time and in vivo is very rare. In most of the studies published in this field, isolated mitochondria or isolated cells in vitro were and are in use and therefore the technology used in those studies cannot be adapted to patient monitoring. Evaluation of mitochondrial function by optical monitoring of NADH redox state could be used in isolated mitochondria as well as in patients under various clinical situations. Therefore, we developed a medical device that could provide real time data on mitochondrial function as well as microcirculatory blood flow and oxygenation using optical based technology. In order to improve, significantly, outcome of patients in critical care medicine and other conditions it is necessary to adapt our device that was cleared by the FDA. Our preliminary results in patients indicate that our approach of monitoring of tissue vitality is the next step in improving the health of humankind.