Isotope Labelling

Isotope labelling is a scientific technique incorporating stable or radioactive isotopes into molecules to trace biochemical pathways, molecular interactions, or metabolic processes. These labelled atoms behave chemically like their natural counterparts but can be detected with high sensitivity. Common isotopes include carbon-13, nitrogen-15, deuterium, and phosphorus-32, widely used in metabolomics, proteomics, pharmacokinetics, and imaging studies.

In drug development, isotope labelling supports absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) studies by tracking labelled drug through biological systems. Isotope-labelled compounds enable mass balance studies in humans, tracking drug fate and quantifying metabolites. In structural biology, isotope labelling enhances NMR and mass spectrometry accuracy enabling detailed molecular characterisation. Metabolic flux analysis using isotope-labelled substrates reveals how cells process nutrients, informing both disease understanding and bioprocess optimisation. As analytical capabilities advance, isotope labelling continues enabling precise tracking of molecular behaviour inside complex biological systems.