Yifu Biotech Advances Comprehensive and Precise Cancer Diagnostics Through Whole-Tissue 3D Spatial In Situ Analysis Technology

In the field of oncology research, high heterogeneity has long been a major obstacle to precise diagnosis. Traditional diagnostic methods are limited by very thin tissue sections, making it difficult to comprehensively capture the true nature of tumors, which severely compromises the accuracy and completeness of disease diagnosis.

With the advancement of 3D spatial biology technologies, new approaches have emerged to address this challenge: by conducting comprehensive, three-dimensional in-depth analysis of thicker tissue samples, 3D spatial omics technologies enable precise whole-tissue analysis.

Yifu Technology is a leader in this field, dedicated to core technologies for in situ 3D structural analysis of whole tissues. It enables the direct acquisition of three-dimensional spatial structural information of entire biological tissue samples at single-cell resolution, helping tumor patients obtain more accurate diagnostic results.

Since 2015, Yifu Technology has been building a comprehensive technological platform for precise 3D measurement at single-cell resolution across entire tissues.

The decision to focus on “3D spatial omics” is linked to the team-building efforts at Yifu Technology.

The founding team of Yifu Technology is centered around the research group led by Professor Li Xiaowei from the School of Biomedical Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. It is reported that Professor Li Xiaowei primarily engages in research related to 3D tissue imaging. To date, he has published more than 40 academic papers and filed 30 patent applications, with 11 patents already granted.

Li Xiaowei told VCBeat that the Precision 3D Measurement Full-Technology Platform integrates multiple cutting-edge technologies, including complete tissue clearing, rapid multiplex immunolabeling, 3D imaging, and AI-based 3D big data processing and visualization, thereby delivering an end-to-end solution from sample preparation to data analysis.

Among them,Tissue Clearing Technology is One of the Core Highlights of the Yifu Tech PlatformTissue clearing can transform biological tissues into a state that is completely transparent in the visible light spectrum, enabling direct and precise measurement of the high-resolution (cellular and subcellular scale) three-dimensional structures of centimeter-scale tissues (organs) using optical sectioning microscopes (such as confocal, two-photon, and light-sheet microscopes).

Building on this, Yifu Technology employs its proprietary electric field-accelerated mass transport technology to achieve rapid, high-throughput tissue clearing and molecular labeling, reducing sample processing time to approximately 30 hours and shortening the experimental cycle by more than fivefold compared with conventional methods.

Following tissue clearing and molecular labeling, light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) can be employed to comprehensively acquire three-dimensional structural information of nerves, blood vessels, cells, and other components within biological tissues. In this phase, the team not only utilized Axial Swept Light Microscopy (ASLM) to ensure high resolution but also achieved rapid image acquisition; whole-brain imaging of a mouse was completed within 30 minutes, with the resulting sample data volume remaining under 300 GB.

Finally, in the image processing and analysis stage,Yifu has also adopted an AI-based batch image processing platform to perform personalized image processing and analysis according to diverse needs, thereby enabling quantitative data analysis and precise interpretation.. In this way, Yifu Technology achieves parallel multi-scale and multi-parametric measurements of biological tissues, thereby providing technical services, medical devices, and diagnostic kits for the precise diagnosis and personalized treatment of tumors.

Regarding product strategy, Li Xiaowei acknowledged that Yifu’s industrial applications target three primary markets: scientific research, drug development, and clinical practice.

As a pioneer in the scientific research market, Yifu Technology has launched a one-stop technical service solution covering the entire workflow from tissue fixation, rapid tissue clearing, and rapid tissue labeling to light-sheet 3D imaging and image processing.

To this end, at the equipment level, Yifu Technology is equipped with a range of cutting-edge devices, including the SmartSPIM light-sheet 3D imaging system from U.S.-based LCT, the Megatome large-tissue sectioning microtome, the SmartBatch+ fully automated 3D tissue clearing and immunolabeling instrument, and the self-developed FTI series rapid immunolabeling instruments.

In terms of consumables, Yifu Technology has also launched a series of high-quality products, including vascular labeling kits, tissue imaging solutions, tissue fixation reagents, clearing reagents, labeling reagents, and refractive index matching reagents, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of experimental procedures and providing robust support for researchers.

Li Xiaowei emphasized,Yifu’s service highlights lie in its one-stop “sample-to-data” solution and personalized service experience.Specifically, researchers need only provide samples to obtain comprehensive 3D spatial omics data, significantly saving time and effort. Meanwhile, personalized services place greater emphasis on meeting the unique needs of researchers, ensuring that each project receives the most suitable solution.

In the pharmaceutical R&D market, Yifu Technology also has a clear strategic plan. The company intends to provide precise 3D spatial biology solutions with whole-organism single-cell resolution to a range of clients, including national research institutes, CROs, pharmaceutical R&D centers, and R&D centers of multinational corporations in China, thereby facilitating advancements in tumor immunotherapy and neurological drug development.

In terms of clinical applications, Yifu Technology focuses on providing 3D pathology technology to oncology departments in general hospitals and specialized oncology hospitals. It is reported that Yifu Technology is collaborating with multiple key hospitals in Shanghai and Jiangsu Province, having established close scientific research partnerships with leading hospitals, particularly in the field of oncology. Currently, through in-depth collaboration with oncology and pathology departments, the team has conducted numerous case studies, laying a solid foundation for the development of future precision diagnostic protocols.

When it comes to technological development, Li Xiaowei is full of confidence. He emphasized that,Although the large-scale adoption of 3D pathology is still in its early stages, its application scenarios in practical diagnosis have begun to emerge, addressing the limitations of existing diagnostic methods in terms of precision.Through continuous technological innovation and optimization, 3D spatial omics technology is poised to play a greater role in the medical field, providing robust support for precision treatment of patients.

In the face of increasingly clear clinical needs,Yifu is also accelerating its progress toward the research and development of automated and intelligent instruments.“The intelligence of the instrument is not only aimed at enhancing the user experience, but also at meeting the needs of clinicians and pathologists in practical operations,” said Li Xiaowei.

To accelerate the product upgrade process, Yifu has launched a new round of financing. Li Xiaowei emphasized that the team aims to make more significant strategic moves this time, particularly in business advancement and R&D regulatory filings. This will also help Yifu more rapidly transform innovative technologies into actual products, meeting the urgent demands of the market and clinical practice.