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Lee LCC, Lo KKW. Shining New Light on Biological Systems: Luminescent Transition Metal Complexes for Bioimaging and Biosensing Applications. Chem Rev 2024. [PMID: 39052606 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Luminescence imaging is a powerful and versatile technique for investigating cell physiology and pathology in living systems, making significant contributions to life science research and clinical diagnosis. In recent years, luminescent transition metal complexes have gained significant attention for diagnostic and therapeutic applications due to their unique photophysical and photochemical properties. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recent development of luminescent transition metal complexes for bioimaging and biosensing applications, with a focus on transition metal centers with a d6, d8, and d10 electronic configuration. We elucidate the structure-property relationships of luminescent transition metal complexes, exploring how their structural characteristics can be manipulated to control their biological behavior such as cellular uptake, localization, biocompatibility, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution. Furthermore, we introduce the various design strategies that leverage the interesting photophysical properties of luminescent transition metal complexes for a wide variety of biological applications, including autofluorescence-free imaging, multimodal imaging, organelle imaging, biological sensing, microenvironment monitoring, bioorthogonal labeling, bacterial imaging, and cell viability assessment. Finally, we provide insights into the challenges and perspectives of luminescent transition metal complexes for bioimaging and biosensing applications, as well as their use in disease diagnosis and treatment evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Cho-Cheung Lee
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology Limited, Units 1503-1511, 15/F, Building 17W, Hong Kong Science Park, New Territories, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Kenneth Kam-Wing Lo
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimeter Waves, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P. R. China
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2
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Debruyne A, Okkelman IA, Heymans N, Pinheiro C, Hendrix A, Nobis M, Borisov SM, Dmitriev RI. Live Microscopy of Multicellular Spheroids with the Multimodal Near-Infrared Nanoparticles Reveals Differences in Oxygenation Gradients. ACS NANO 2024; 18:12168-12186. [PMID: 38687976 PMCID: PMC11100290 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c12539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Assessment of hypoxia, nutrients, metabolite gradients, and other hallmarks of the tumor microenvironment within 3D multicellular spheroid and organoid models represents a challenging analytical task. Here, we report red/near-infrared (NIR) emitting cell staining with O2-sensitive nanoparticles, which enable measurements of spheroid oxygenation on a conventional fluorescence microscope. Nanosensor probes, termed "MMIR" (multimodal infrared), incorporate an NIR O2-sensitive metalloporphyrin (PtTPTBPF) and deep red aza-BODIPY reference dyes within a biocompatible polymer shell, allowing for oxygen gradient quantification via fluorescence ratio and phosphorescence lifetime readouts. We optimized staining techniques and evaluated the nanosensor probe characteristics and cytotoxicity. Subsequently, we applied nanosensors to the live spheroid models based on HCT116, DPSCs, and SKOV3 cells, at rest, and treated with drugs affecting cell respiration. We found that the growth medium viscosity, spheroid size, and formation method influenced spheroid oxygenation. Some spheroids produced from HCT116 and dental pulp stem cells exhibited "inverted" oxygenation gradients, with higher core oxygen levels than the periphery. This contrasted with the frequently encountered "normal" gradient of hypoxia toward the core caused by diffusion. Further microscopy analysis of spheroids with an "inverted" gradient demonstrated metabolic stratification of cells within spheroids: thus, autofluorescence FLIM of NAD(P)H indicated the formation of a glycolytic core and localization of OxPhos-active cells at the periphery. Collectively, we demonstrate a strong potential of NIR-emitting ratiometric nanosensors for advanced microscopy studies targeting live and quantitative real-time monitoring of cell metabolism and hypoxia in complex 3D tissue models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela
C. Debruyne
- Tissue
Engineering and Biomaterials Group, Department of Human Structure
and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Irina A. Okkelman
- Tissue
Engineering and Biomaterials Group, Department of Human Structure
and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent
Light
Microscopy Core, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nina Heymans
- Tissue
Engineering and Biomaterials Group, Department of Human Structure
and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cláudio Pinheiro
- Laboratory
of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and
Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer
Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - An Hendrix
- Laboratory
of Experimental Cancer Research, Department of Human Structure and
Repair, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer
Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Max Nobis
- Intravital
Imaging Expertise Center, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sergey M. Borisov
- Institute
of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Ruslan I. Dmitriev
- Tissue
Engineering and Biomaterials Group, Department of Human Structure
and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Ghent
Light
Microscopy Core, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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3
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Zhdanov AV, Sen R, Devoy C, Li L, Tangney M, Papkovsky DB. Analysis of tumour oxygenation in model animals on a phosphorescence lifetime based macro-imager. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18732. [PMID: 37907625 PMCID: PMC10618169 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46224-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring of tissue O2 is essential for cancer development and treatment, as hypoxic tumour regions develop resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. We describe a minimally invasive technique for the monitoring of tissue oxygenation in developing grafted tumours, which uses the new phosphorescence lifetime based Tpx3Cam imager. CT26 cells stained with a near-infrared emitting nanoparticulate O2 probe NanO2-IR were injected into mice to produce grafted tumours with characteristic phosphorescence. The tumours were allowed to develop for 3, 7, 10 and 17 days, with O2 imaging experiments performed on live and euthanised animals at different time points. Despite a marked trend towards decreased O2 in dead animals, their tumour areas produced phosphorescence lifetime values between 44 and 47 µs, which corresponded to hypoxic tissue with 5-20 μM O2. After the O2 imaging in animals, confocal Phosphorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy was conducted to examine the distribution of NanO2-IR probe in the tumours, which were excised, fixed and sliced for the purpose. The probe remained visible as bright and discrete 'islands' embedded in the tumour tissue until day 17 of tumour growth. Overall, this O2 macro-imaging method using NanO2-IR holds promise for long-term studies with grafted tumours in live animal models, providing quantitative 2D mapping of tissue O2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander V Zhdanov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - Rajannya Sen
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ciaran Devoy
- Cancer Research @UCC, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Liang Li
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland
| | - Mark Tangney
- Cancer Research @UCC, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Dmitri B Papkovsky
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
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Samandarsangari M, Kozina DO, Sokolov VV, Komarova AD, Shirmanova MV, Kritchenkov IS, Tunik SP. Biocompatible Phosphorescent O 2 Sensors Based on Ir(III) Complexes for In Vivo Hypoxia Imaging. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:680. [PMID: 37504079 PMCID: PMC10377268 DOI: 10.3390/bios13070680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we obtained three new phosphorescent iridium complexes (Ir1-Ir3) of general stoichiometry [Ir(N^C)2(N^N)]Cl decorated with oligo(ethylene glycol) fragments to make them water-soluble and biocompatible, as well as to protect them from aggregation with biomolecules such as albumin. The major photophysical characteristics of these phosphorescent complexes are determined by the nature of two cyclometallating ligands (N^C) based on 2-pyridine-benzothiophene, since quantum chemical calculations revealed that the electronic transitions responsible for the excitation and emission are localized mainly at these fragments. However, the use of various diimine ligands (N^N) proved to affect the quantum yield of phosphorescence and allowed for changing the complexes' sensitivity to oxygen, due to the variations in the steric accessibility of the chromophore center for O2 molecules. It was also found that the N^N ligands made it possible to tune the biocompatibility of the resulting compounds. The wavelengths of the Ir1-Ir3 emission maxima fell in the range of 630-650 nm, the quantum yields reached 17% (Ir1) in a deaerated solution, and sensitivity to molecular oxygen, estimated as the ratio of emission lifetime in deaerated and aerated water solutions, displayed the highest value, 8.2, for Ir1. The obtained complexes featured low toxicity, good water solubility and the absence of a significant effect of biological environment components on the parameters of their emission. Of the studied compounds, Ir1 and Ir2 were chosen for in vitro and in vivo biological experiments to estimate oxygen concentration in cell lines and tumors. These sensors have demonstrated their effectiveness for mapping the distribution of oxygen and for monitoring hypoxia in the biological objects studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mozhgan Samandarsangari
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Embankment 7-9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Daria O Kozina
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Embankment 7-9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Victor V Sokolov
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Embankment 7-9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anastasia D Komarova
- Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhskiy Research Medical University, Minin and Pozharsky Sq. 10/1, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
- Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Gagarina Av., 23, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Marina V Shirmanova
- Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhskiy Research Medical University, Minin and Pozharsky Sq. 10/1, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Ilya S Kritchenkov
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Embankment 7-9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sergey P Tunik
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Embankment 7-9, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
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Zharskaia NA, Solomatina AI, Liao YC, Galenko EE, Khlebnikov AF, Chou PT, Chelushkin PS, Tunik SP. Aggregation-Induced Ignition of Near-Infrared Phosphorescence of Non-Symmetric [Pt(C^N*N’^C’)] Complex in Poly(caprolactone)-based Block Copolymer Micelles: Evaluating the Alternative Design of Near-Infrared Oxygen Biosensors. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12090695. [PMID: 36140080 PMCID: PMC9496585 DOI: 10.3390/bios12090695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In the present work, we described the preparation and characterization of the micelles based on amphiphilic poly(ε-caprolactone-block-ethylene glycol) block copolymer (PCL-b-PEG) loaded with non-symmetric [Pt(C^N*N’^C’)] complex (Pt1) (where C^N*N’^C’: 6-(phenyl(6-(thiophene-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl)amino)-2-(tyophene-2-yl)nicotinate). The obtained nanospecies displayed the ignition of near-infrared (NIR) phosphorescence upon an increase in the content of the platinum complexes in the micelles, which acted as the major emission component at 12 wt.% of Pt1. Emergence of the NIR band at 780 nm was also accompanied by a 3-fold growth of the quantum yield and an increase in the two-photon absorption cross-section that reached the value of 450 GM. Both effects are believed to be the result of progressive platinum complex aggregation inside hydrophobic poly(caprolactone) cores of block copolymer micelles, which has been ascribed to aggregation induced emission (AIE). The resulting phosphorescent (Pt1@PCL-b-PEG) micelles demonstrated pronounced sensitivity towards molecular oxygen, the key intracellular bioanalyte. The detailed photophysical analysis of the AIE phenomena revealed that the NIR emission most probably occurred due to the excimeric excited state of the 3MMLCT character. Evaluation of the Pt1@PCL-b-PEG efficacy as a lifetime intracellular oxygen biosensor carried out in CHO-K1 live cells demonstrated the linear response of the probe emission lifetime towards this analyte accompanied by a pronounced influence of serum albumin on the lifetime response. Nevertheless, Pt1@PCL-b-PEG can serve as a semi-quantitative lifetime oxygen nanosensor. The key result of this study consists of the demonstration of an alternative approach for the preparation of NIR biosensors by taking advantage of in situ generation of NIR emission due to the nanoconfined aggregation of Pt (II) complexes inside the micellar nanocarriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina A. Zharskaia
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii Av., 26, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anastasia I. Solomatina
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii Av., 26, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yu-Chan Liao
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Ekaterina E. Galenko
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii Av., 26, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexander F. Khlebnikov
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii Av., 26, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Pi-Tai Chou
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (P.-T.C.); (P.S.C.)
| | - Pavel S. Chelushkin
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii Av., 26, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Correspondence: (P.-T.C.); (P.S.C.)
| | - Sergey P. Tunik
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii Av., 26, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
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6
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Chelushkin PS, Shakirova JR, Kritchenkov IS, Baigildin VA, Tunik SP. Phosphorescent NIR emitters for biomedicine: applications, advances and challenges. Dalton Trans 2021; 51:1257-1280. [PMID: 34878463 DOI: 10.1039/d1dt03077a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Application of NIR (near-infrared) emitting transition metal complexes in biomedicine is a rapidly developing area of research. Emission of this class of compounds in the "optical transparency windows" of biological tissues and the intrinsic sensitivity of their phosphorescence to oxygen resulted in the preparation of several commercial oxygen sensors capable of deep (up to whole-body) and quantitative mapping of oxygen gradients suitable for in vivo experimental studies. In addition to this achievement, the last decade has also witnessed the increased growth of successful alternative applications of NIR phosphors that include (i) site-specific in vitro and in vivo visualization of sophisticated biological models ranging from 3D cell cultures to intact animals; (ii) sensing of various biologically relevant analytes, such as pH, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, RedOx agents, etc.; (iii) and several therapeutic applications such as photodynamic (PDT), photothermal (PTT), and photoactivated cancer (PACT) therapies as well as their combinations with other therapeutic and imaging modalities to yield new variants of combined therapies and theranostics. Nevertheless, emerging applications of these compounds in experimental biomedicine and their implementation as therapeutic agents practically applicable in PDT, PTT, and PACT face challenges related to a critically important improvement of their photophysical and physico-chemical characteristics. This review outlines the current state of the art and achievements of the last decade and stresses the most promising trends, major development prospects, and challenges in the design of NIR phosphors suitable for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel S Chelushkin
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii pr., 26, 198504, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Julia R Shakirova
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii pr., 26, 198504, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Ilya S Kritchenkov
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii pr., 26, 198504, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Vadim A Baigildin
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii pr., 26, 198504, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Sergey P Tunik
- Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii pr., 26, 198504, St. Petersburg, Russia.
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7
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Elistratova AA, Kritchenkov IS, Lezov AA, Gubarev AS, Solomatina AI, Kachkin DV, Shcherbina NA, Liao YC, Liu YC, Yang YY, Tsvetkov NV, Chelushkin PS, Chou PT, Tunik SP. Lifetime oxygen sensors based on block copolymer micelles and non-covalent human serum albumin adducts bearing phosphorescent near-infrared iridium(III) complex. Eur Polym J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2021.110761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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8
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Zhuang M, Joshi S, Sun H, Batabyal T, Fraser CL, Kapur J. Difluoroboron β-diketonate polylactic acid oxygen nanosensors for intracellular neuronal imaging. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1076. [PMID: 33441771 PMCID: PMC7806623 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80172-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Critical for metabolism, oxygen plays an essential role in maintaining the structure and function of neurons. Oxygen sensing is important in common neurological disorders such as strokes, seizures, or neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injuries, which result from an imbalance between metabolic demand and oxygen supply. Phosphorescence quenching by oxygen provides a non-invasive optical method to measure oxygen levels within cells and tissues. Difluoroboron β-diketonates are a family of luminophores with high quantum yields and tunable fluorescence and phosphorescence when embedded in certain rigid matrices such as poly (lactic acid) (PLA). Boron nanoparticles (BNPs) can be fabricated from dye-PLA materials for oxygen mapping in a variety of biological milieu. These dual-emissive nanoparticles have oxygen-insensitive fluorescence, oxygen-sensitive phosphorescence, and rigid matrix all in one, enabling real-time ratiometric oxygen sensing at micron-level spatial and millisecond-level temporal resolution. In this study, BNPs are applied in mouse brain slices to investigate oxygen distributions and neuronal activity. The optical properties and physical stability of BNPs in a biologically relevant buffer were stable. Primary neuronal cultures were labeled by BNPs and the mitochondria membrane probe MitoTracker Red FM. BNPs were taken up by neuronal cell bodies, at dendrites, and at synapses, and the localization of BNPs was consistent with that of MitoTracker Red FM. The brain slices were stained with the BNPs, and the BNPs did not significantly affect the electrophysiological properties of neurons. Oxygen maps were generated in living brain slices where oxygen is found to be mostly consumed by mitochondria near synapses. Finally, the BNPs exhibited excellent response when the conditions varied from normoxic to hypoxic and when the neuronal activity was increased by increasing K+ concentration. This work demonstrates the capability of BNPs as a non-invasive tool in oxygen sensing and could provide fundamental insight into neuronal mechanisms and excitability research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhuang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Suchitra Joshi
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Huayu Sun
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Tamal Batabyal
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Cassandra L Fraser
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.
| | - Jaideep Kapur
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA.
- UVA Brain Institute, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA.
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Cheng MHY, Mo Y, Zheng G. Nano versus Molecular: Optical Imaging Approaches to Detect and Monitor Tumor Hypoxia. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001549. [PMID: 33241672 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia is a ubiquitous feature of solid tumors, which plays a key role in tumor angiogenesis and resistance development. Conventional hypoxia detection methods lack continuous functional detection and are generally less suitable for dynamic hypoxia measurement. Optical sensors hereby provide a unique opportunity to noninvasively image hypoxia with high spatiotemporal resolution and enable real-time detection. Therefore, these approaches can provide a valuable tool for personalized treatment planning against this hallmark of aggressive cancers. Many small optical molecular probes can enable analyte triggered response and their photophysical properties can also be fine-tuned through structural modification. On the other hand, optical nanoprobes can acquire unique intrinsic optical properties through nanoconfinement as well as enable simultaneous multimodal imaging and drug delivery. Furthermore, nanoprobes provide biological advantages such as improving bioavailability and systemic delivery of the sensor to enhance bioavailability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the physical, chemical, and biological analytes for cancer hypoxia detection and focuses on discussing the latest nano- and molecular developments in various optical imaging approaches (fluorescence, phosphorescence, and photoacoustic) in vivo. Finally, this review concludes with a perspective toward the potentials of these optical imaging approaches in hypoxia detection and the challenges with molecular and nanotechnology design strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miffy Hok Yan Cheng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre University Health Network 101 College Street, PMCRT 5–354 Toronto Ontario M5G 1L7 Canada
| | - Yulin Mo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre University Health Network 101 College Street, PMCRT 5–354 Toronto Ontario M5G 1L7 Canada
- Institute of Medical Science University of Toronto 101 College Street Toronto Ontario M5G 1L7 Canada
| | - Gang Zheng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre University Health Network 101 College Street, PMCRT 5–354 Toronto Ontario M5G 1L7 Canada
- Institute of Medical Science University of Toronto 101 College Street Toronto Ontario M5G 1L7 Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics University of Toronto 101 College Street Toronto Ontario M5G 1L7 Canada
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Sen R, Zhdanov AV, Bastiaanssen TFS, Hirvonen LM, Svihra P, Fitzgerald P, Cryan JF, Andersson-Engels S, Nomerotski A, Papkovsky DB. Mapping O 2 concentration in ex-vivo tissue samples on a fast PLIM macro-imager. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19006. [PMID: 33149165 PMCID: PMC7642408 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75928-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
O2 PLIM microscopy was employed in various studies, however current platforms have limitations in sensitivity, image acquisition speed, accuracy and general usability. We describe a new PLIM imager based on the Timepix3 camera (Tpx3cam) and its application for imaging of O2 concentration in various tissue samples stained with a nanoparticle based probe, NanO2-IR. Upon passive staining of mouse brain, lung or intestinal tissue surface with minute quantities of NanO2-IR or by microinjecting the probe into the lumen of small or large intestine fragments, robust phosphorescence intensity and lifetime signals were produced, which allow mapping of O2 in the tissue within 20 s. Inhibition of tissue respiration or limitation of O2 diffusion to tissue produced the anticipated increases or decreases in O2 levels, respectively. The difference in O2 concentration between the colonic lumen and air-exposed serosal surface was around 140 µM. Furthermore, subcutaneous injection of 5 µg of the probe in intact organs (a paw or tail of sacrificed mice) enabled efficient O2 imaging at tissue depths of up to 0.5 mm. Overall, the PLIM imager holds promise for metabolic imaging studies with various ex vivo models of animal tissue, and also for use in live animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajannya Sen
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Alexander V Zhdanov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Thomaz F S Bastiaanssen
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Liisa M Hirvonen
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (CMCA), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Peter Svihra
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University, 115 19, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M139PL, UK
| | | | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Andrei Nomerotski
- Physics Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973, USA
| | - Dmitri B Papkovsky
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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11
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Sen R, Hirvonen LM, Zhdanov A, Svihra P, Andersson-Engels S, Nomerotski A, Papkovsky D. New luminescence lifetime macro-imager based on a Tpx3Cam optical camera. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:77-88. [PMID: 32010501 PMCID: PMC6968763 DOI: 10.1364/boe.11.000077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The properties of a novel ultra-fast optical imager, Tpx3Cam, were investigated for macroscopic wide-field phosphorescent lifetime imaging (PLIM) applications. The camera is based on a novel optical sensor and Timepix3 readout chip with a time resolution of 1.6 ns, recording of photon arrival time and time over threshold for each pixel, and readout rate of 80 megapixels per second. In this study, we coupled the camera to an image intensifier, a 760 nm emission filter and a 50 mm lens, and with a super-bright 627nm LED providing pulsed excitation of a 18 × 18 mm sample area. The resulting macro-imager with compact and rigid optical alignment of its main components was characterised using planar phosphorescent O2 sensors and a resolution plate mask. Several acquisition and image processing algorithms were evaluated to optimise the system resolution and performance for the wide-field PLIM, followed by imaging a variety of phosphorescent samples. The new PLIM system looks promising, particularly for phosphorescence lifetime-based imaging of O2 in various chemical and biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajannya Sen
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Liisa M. Hirvonen
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (CMCA), The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Alexander Zhdanov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Peter Svihra
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Prague 115 19, Czech Republic
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M139PL, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrei Nomerotski
- Physics Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA
| | - Dmitri Papkovsky
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Irish Photonics Integration Centre, Tyndall National Institute, Cork, Ireland
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12
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Sigaeva A, Ong Y, Damle VG, Morita A, van der Laan KJ, Schirhagl R. Optical Detection of Intracellular Quantities Using Nanoscale Technologies. Acc Chem Res 2019; 52:1739-1749. [PMID: 31187980 PMCID: PMC6639779 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.9b00102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Optical probes that can be used to measure certain quantities with subcellular resolution give us access to a new level of information at which physics, chemistry, life sciences, and medicine become strongly intertwined. The emergence of these new technologies is owed to great advances in the physical sciences. However, evaluating and improving these methods to new standards requires a joint effort with life sciences and clinical practice. In this Account, we give an overview of the probes that have been developed for measuring a few highly relevant parameters at the subcellular scale: temperature, pH, oxygen, free radicals, inorganic ions, genetic material, and biomarkers. Luminescent probes are available in many varieties, which can be used for measuring temperature, pH, and oxygen. Since they are influenced by virtually any metabolic process in the healthy or diseased cell, these quantities are extremely useful to understand intracellular processes. Probes for them can roughly be divided into molecular dyes with a parameter dependent fluorescence or phosphorescence and nanoparticle platforms. Nanoparticle probes can provide enhanced photostability, measurement quality, and potential for multiple functionalities. Embedding into coatings can improve biocompatibility or prevent nonspecific interactions between the probe and the cellular environment. These qualities need to be matched however with good uptake properties, colloidal properties and eventually intracellular targeting to optimize their practical applicability. Inorganic ions constitute a broad class of compounds or elements, some of which play specific roles in signaling, while others are toxic. Their detection is often difficult due to the cross-talk with similar ions, as well as other parameters. The detection of free radicals, DNA, and biomarkers at extremely low levels has significant potential for biomedical applications. Their presence is linked more directly to physiological and clinical manifestations. Since existing methods for free radical detection are generally poor in sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution, new reliable methods that are generally applicable can contribute greatly to advancing this topic in biology. Optical methods that detect DNA or RNA and protein biomarkers exist for intracellular applications, but are mostly relevant for the development of rapid point-of-care sample testing. To elucidate the inner workings of cells, focused multidisciplinary research is required to define the validity and limitations of a nanoparticle probe, in both physical and biological terms. Multifunctional platforms and those that are easily made compatible with conventional research equipment have an edge over other techniques in growing the body of research evidencing their versatility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Sigaeva
- Groningen
University, University Medical
Center Groningen, Antonius
Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yori Ong
- Groningen
University, University Medical
Center Groningen, Antonius
Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Viraj G. Damle
- Groningen
University, University Medical
Center Groningen, Antonius
Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aryan Morita
- Groningen
University, University Medical
Center Groningen, Antonius
Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
- Dept.
Dental Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
| | - Kiran J. van der Laan
- Groningen
University, University Medical
Center Groningen, Antonius
Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Romana Schirhagl
- Groningen
University, University Medical
Center Groningen, Antonius
Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
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13
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Chelushkin PS, Tunik SP. Phosphorescence Lifetime Imaging (PLIM): State of the Art and Perspectives. SPRINGER SERIES IN CHEMICAL PHYSICS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-05974-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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14
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Papkovsky DB, Dmitriev RI. Imaging of oxygen and hypoxia in cell and tissue samples. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:2963-2980. [PMID: 29761206 PMCID: PMC11105559 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2840-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Molecular oxygen (O2) is a key player in cell mitochondrial function, redox balance and oxidative stress, normal tissue function and many common disease states. Various chemical, physical and biological methods have been proposed for measurement, real-time monitoring and imaging of O2 concentration, state of decreased O2 (hypoxia) and related parameters in cells and tissue. Here, we review the established and emerging optical microscopy techniques allowing to visualize O2 levels in cells and tissue samples, mostly under in vitro and ex vivo, but also under in vivo settings. Particular examples include fluorescent hypoxia stains, fluorescent protein reporter systems, phosphorescent probes and nanosensors of different types. These techniques allow high-resolution mapping of O2 gradients in live or post-mortem tissue, in 2D or 3D, qualitatively or quantitatively. They enable control and monitoring of oxygenation conditions and their correlation with other biomarkers of cell and tissue function. Comparison of these techniques and corresponding imaging setups, their analytical capabilities and typical applications are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitri B Papkovsky
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cavanagh Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Ruslan I Dmitriev
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cavanagh Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russian Federation.
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15
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Mueller BJ, Zhdanov AV, Borisov SM, Foley T, Okkelman IA, Tsytsarev V, Tang Q, Erzurumlu RS, Chen Y, Zhang H, Toncelli C, Klimant I, Papkovsky DB, Dmitriev RI. Nanoparticle-based fluoroionophore for analysis of potassium ion dynamics in 3D tissue models and in vivo. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2018; 28:1704598. [PMID: 30271316 PMCID: PMC6157274 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201704598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The imaging of real-time fluxes of K+ ions in live cell with high dynamic range (5-150 mM) is of paramount importance for neuroscience and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract, kidney and other tissues. In particular, the research on high-performance deep-red fluorescent nanoparticle-based biosensors is highly anticipated. We found that BODIPY-based FI3 K+-sensitive fluoroionophore encapsulated in cationic polymer RL100 nanoparticles displays unusually strong efficiency in staining of broad spectrum of cell models, such as primary neurons and intestinal organoids. Using comparison of brightness, photostability and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) we confirmed that FI3 nanoparticles display distinctively superior intracellular staining compared to the free dye. We evaluated FI3 nanoparticles in real-time live cell imaging and found that it is highly useful for monitoring intra- and extracellular K+ dynamics in cultured neurons. Proof-of-concept in vivo brain imaging confirmed applicability of the biosensor for visualization of epileptic seizures. Collectively, this data makes fluoroionophore FI3 a versatile cross-platform fluorescent biosensor, broadly compatible with diverse experimental models and that crown ether-based polymer nanoparticles can provide a new venue for design of efficient fluorescent probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard J. Mueller
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Alexander V. Zhdanov
- ABCRF, School of Biochemistry and Cell biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Sergey M. Borisov
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Tara Foley
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Irina A. Okkelman
- ABCRF, School of Biochemistry and Cell biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Vassiliy Tsytsarev
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qinggong Tang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 20740 MD, USA
| | - Reha S. Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, 20740 MD, USA
| | - Haijiang Zhang
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Claudio Toncelli
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Ingo Klimant
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Dmitri B. Papkovsky
- ABCRF, School of Biochemistry and Cell biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ruslan I. Dmitriev
- ABCRF, School of Biochemistry and Cell biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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16
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Tsytsarev V, Akkentli F, Pumbo E, Tang Q, Chen Y, Erzurumlu RS, Papkovsky DB. Planar implantable sensor for in vivo measurement of cellular oxygen metabolism in brain tissue. J Neurosci Methods 2017; 281:1-6. [PMID: 28219725 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brain imaging methods are continually improving. Imaging of the cerebral cortex is widely used in both animal experiments and charting human brain function in health and disease. Among the animal models, the rodent cerebral cortex has been widely used because of patterned neural representation of the whiskers on the snout and relative ease of activating cortical tissue with whisker stimulation. NEW METHOD We tested a new planar solid-state oxygen sensor comprising a polymeric film with a phosphorescent oxygen-sensitive coating on the working side, to monitor dynamics of oxygen metabolism in the cerebral cortex following sensory stimulation. RESULTS Sensory stimulation led to changes in oxygenation and deoxygenation processes of activated areas in the barrel cortex. We demonstrate the possibility of dynamic mapping of relative changes in oxygenation in live mouse brain tissue with such a sensor. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD Oxygenation-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is very effective method for functional brain mapping but have high costs and limited spatial resolution. Optical imaging of intrinsic signal (IOS) does not provide the required sensitivity, and voltage-sensitive dye optical imaging (VSDi) has limited applicability due to significant toxicity of the voltage-sensitive dye. Our planar solid-state oxygen sensor imaging approach circumvents these limitations, providing a simple optical contrast agent with low toxicity and rapid application. CONCLUSIONS The planar solid-state oxygen sensor described here can be used as a tool in visualization and real-time analysis of sensory-evoked neural activity in vivo. Further, this approach allows visualization of local neural activity with high temporal and spatial resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vassiliy Tsytsarev
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street, HSF-2, 21201 MD, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Fatih Akkentli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street, HSF-2, 21201 MD, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Elena Pumbo
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington DC, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20010, USA.
| | - Qinggong Tang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Kim Engineering Building, College Park, MD 20740, USA.
| | - Yu Chen
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Kim Engineering Building, College Park, MD 20740, USA.
| | - Reha S Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street, HSF-2, 21201 MD, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Dmitri B Papkovsky
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cavanagh Pharmacy Building 1.28, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
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17
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Papkovsky DB, Zhdanov AV. Phosphorescence based O 2 sensors - Essential tools for monitoring cell and tissue oxygenation and its impact on metabolism. Free Radic Biol Med 2016; 101:202-210. [PMID: 27789291 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Oxygenation condition at the cellular level is a critical factor in tissue physiology and common pathophysiological states including cancer, metabolic disorders, ischemia-reperfusion injury and inflammation. O2 and ROS signalling and hypoxia research are rapidly growing areas spanning life and biomedical sciences, but still many current cell and tissue models and experimental set ups lack physiological relevance, particularly precise control of cellular O2. Quenched-phosphorescence O2 sensing enables implementation of such in situ control of cellular O2 and the creation of physiological conditions in respiring samples analysed in vitro. The advantages of optical O2 sensing are the non-invasive, contactless, real-time, quantitative monitoring of O2 concentration, which can be performed in the gas or liquid phase, macroscopically or microscopically, by point measurement or in imaging mode, with sub-cellular spatial resolution, in a flexible manner and with various cell and tissue models. Significantly, this same technology can also be used to probe the metabolism of cells and tissue under specific oxygenation conditions and their responses to changing conditions. Here we describe the range of available O2 sensing systems and tools, their analytical capabilities, uses in cell/tissue physiology and hypoxia research, and strategies for integration in routine experimental procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitri B Papkovsky
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cavanagh Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Alexander V Zhdanov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cavanagh Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland
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18
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Jana A, Crowston BJ, Shewring JR, McKenzie LK, Bryant HE, Botchway SW, Ward AD, Amoroso AJ, Baggaley E, Ward MD. Heteronuclear Ir(III)-Ln(III) Luminescent Complexes: Small-Molecule Probes for Dual Modal Imaging and Oxygen Sensing. Inorg Chem 2016; 55:5623-33. [PMID: 27219675 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b00702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Luminescent, mixed metal d-f complexes have the potential to be used for dual (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and luminescence) in vivo imaging. Here, we present dinuclear and trinuclear d-f complexes, comprising a rigid framework linking a luminescent Ir center to one (Ir·Ln) or two (Ir·Ln2) lanthanide metal centers (where Ln = Eu(III) and Gd(III), respectively). A range of physical, spectroscopic, and imaging-based properties including relaxivity arising from the Gd(III) units and the occurrence of Ir(III) → Eu(III) photoinduced energy-transfer are presented. The rigidity imposed by the ligand facilitates high relaxivities for the Gd(III) complexes, while the luminescence from the Ir(III) and Eu(III) centers provide luminescence imaging capabilities. Dinuclear (Ir·Ln) complexes performed best in cellular studies, exhibiting good solubility in aqueous solutions, low toxicity after 4 and 18 h, respectively, and punctate lysosomal staining. We also demonstrate the first example of oxygen sensing in fixed cells using the dyad Ir·Gd, via two-photon phosphorescence lifetime imaging (PLIM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Atanu Jana
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, S3 7HF, United Kingdom
| | - Bethany J Crowston
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, S3 7HF, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R Shewring
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, S3 7HF, United Kingdom
| | - Luke K McKenzie
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, S3 7HF, United Kingdom.,Department of Oncology & Metabolism, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, S10 2RX, United Kingdom
| | - Helen E Bryant
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, S10 2RX, United Kingdom
| | - Stanley W Botchway
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, STFC, Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus , Didcot, OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D Ward
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, STFC, Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus , Didcot, OX11 0FA, United Kingdom
| | - Angelo J Amoroso
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University , Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Baggaley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, S3 7HF, United Kingdom
| | - Michael D Ward
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield , Sheffield, S3 7HF, United Kingdom
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19
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Staudinger C, Borisov SM. Long-wavelength analyte-sensitive luminescent probes and optical (bio)sensors. Methods Appl Fluoresc 2015; 3:042005. [PMID: 27134748 PMCID: PMC4849553 DOI: 10.1088/2050-6120/3/4/042005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Long-wavelength luminescent probes and sensors become increasingly popular. They offer the advantage of lower levels of autofluorescence in most biological probes. Due to high penetration depth and low scattering of red and NIR light such probes potentially enable in vivo measurements in tissues and some of them have already reached a high level of reliability required for such applications. This review focuses on the recent progress in development and application of long-wavelength analyte-sensitive probes which can operate both reversibly and irreversibly. Photophysical properties, sensing mechanisms, advantages and limitations of individual probes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Staudinger
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Sergey M Borisov
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, 8010, Graz, Austria
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20
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Tang Q, Tsytsarev V, Liang CP, Akkentli F, Erzurumlu RS, Chen Y. In Vivo Voltage-Sensitive Dye Imaging of Subcortical Brain Function. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17325. [PMID: 26612326 PMCID: PMC4661443 DOI: 10.1038/srep17325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The whisker system of rodents is an excellent model to study peripherally evoked neural activity in the brain. Discrete neural modules represent each whisker in the somatosensory cortex (“barrels”), thalamus (“barreloids”), and brain stem (“barrelettes”). Stimulation of a single whisker evokes neural activity sequentially in its corresponding barrelette, barreloid, and barrel. Conventional optical imaging of functional activation in the brain is limited to surface structures such as the cerebral cortex. To access subcortical structures and image sensory-evoked neural activity, we designed a needle-based optical system using gradient-index (GRIN) rod lens. We performed voltage-sensitive dye imaging (VSDi) with GRIN rod lens to visualize neural activity evoked in the thalamic barreloids by deflection of whiskers in vivo. We stimulated several whiskers together to determine the sensitivity of our approach in differentiating between different barreloid responses. We also carried out stimulation of different whiskers at different times. Finally, we used muscimol in the barrel cortex to silence the corticothalamic inputs while imaging in the thalamus. Our results show that it is possible to obtain functional maps of the sensory periphery in deep brain structures such as the thalamic barreloids. Our approach can be broadly applicable to functional imaging of other core brain structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinggong Tang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
| | - Vassiliy Tsytsarev
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Chia-Pin Liang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
| | - Fatih Akkentli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Reha S Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
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21
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Zhdanov AV, Golubeva AV, Okkelman IA, Cryan JF, Papkovsky DB. Imaging of oxygen gradients in giant umbrella cells: an ex vivo PLIM study. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2015; 309:C501-9. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00121.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
O2 plays a pivotal role in aerobic metabolism and regulation of cell and tissue function. Local differences and fluctuations in tissue O2 levels are well documented; however, the physiological significance of O2 microgradients, particularly at the subcellular level, remains poorly understood. Using the cell-penetrating phosphorescent O2 probe Pt-Glc and confocal fluorescence microscopy, we visualized O2 distribution in individual giant (>100-μm) umbrella cells located superficially in the urinary bladder epithelium. We optimized conditions for in vivo phosphorescent staining of the inner surface of the mouse bladder and subsequent ex vivo analysis of excised live tissue. Imaging experiments revealed significant (≤85 μM) and heterogeneous deoxygenation within respiring umbrella cells, with radial O2 gradients of up to 40 μM across the cell, or ∼0.6 μM/μm. Deeply deoxygenated (5–15 μM O2) regions were seen to correspond to the areas enriched with polarized mitochondria. Pharmacological activation of mitochondrial respiration decreased oxygenation and O2 gradients in umbrella cells, while inhibition with antimycin A dissipated the gradients and caused gradual reoxygenation of the tissue to ambient levels. Detailed three-dimensional maps of O2 distribution potentially can be used for the modeling of intracellular O2-dependent enzymatic reactions and downstream processes, such as hypoxia-inducible factor signaling. Further ex vivo and in vivo studies on intracellular and tissue O2 gradients using confocal imaging can shed light on the molecular mechanisms regulating O2-dependent (patho)physiological processes in the bladder and other tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. V. Zhdanov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - A. V. Golubeva
- Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; and
| | - I. A. Okkelman
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - J. F. Cryan
- Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; and
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - D. B. Papkovsky
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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22
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Liu Y, Xu M, Chen Q, Guan G, Hu W, Zhao X, Qiao M, Hu H, Liang Y, Zhu H, Chen D. Gold nanorods/mesoporous silica-based nanocomposite as theranostic agents for targeting near-infrared imaging and photothermal therapy induced with laser. Int J Nanomedicine 2015; 10:4747-61. [PMID: 26251596 PMCID: PMC4524460 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s82940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Photothermal therapy (PTT) is widely regarded as a promising technology for cancer treatment. Gold nanorods (GNRs), as excellent PTT agent candidates, have shown high-performance photothermal conversion ability under laser irradiation, yet two major obstacles to their clinical application are the lack of selective accumulation in the target site following systemic administration and the greatly reduced photothermal conversion efficiency caused by self-aggregating in aqueous environment. Herein, we demonstrate that tLyp-1 peptide-functionalized, indocyanine green (ICG)-containing mesoporous silica-coated GNRs (I-TMSG) possessed dual-function as tumor cells-targeting near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe and PTT agents. The construction of the nanostructure began with synthesis of GNRs by seed-mediated growth method, followed by the coating of mesoporous silica, the chemical conjugation of PEG and tLyp-1 peptide, and the enclosure of ICG as an NIR imaging agent in the mesoporous. The as-prepared nanoparticles could shield the GNRs against their self-aggregation, improve the stability of ICG, and exhibit negligible dark cytotoxicity. More importantly, such a theranostic nanocomposite could realize the combination of GNRs-based photothermal ablation under NIR illumination, ICG-mediated fluorescent imaging, and tLyp-1-enabled more easy endocytosis into breast cancer cells. All in all, I-TMSG nanoparticles, in our opinion, possessed the strong potential to realize the effective diagnosis and PTT treatment of human mammary cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China ; Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Xu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Guannan Guan
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Hu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuli Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingxi Qiao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyang Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Liang
- Department of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Heyun Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Dawei Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
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23
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Dmitriev RI, Borisov SM, Düssmann H, Sun S, Müller BJ, Prehn J, Baklaushev VP, Klimant I, Papkovsky DB. Versatile Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles for High-Resolution O2 Imaging in Cells and 3D Tissue Models. ACS NANO 2015; 9:5275-88. [PMID: 25858428 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b00771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
High brightness, chemical and photostability, tunable characteristics, and spectral and surface properties are important attributes for nanoparticle probes designed for live cell imaging. We describe a class of nanoparticles for high-resolution imaging of O2 that consists of a substituted conjugated polymer (polyfluorene or poly(fluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole)) acting as a FRET antenna and a fluorescent reference with covalently bound phosphorescent metalloporphyrin (PtTFPP, PtTPTBPF). The nanoparticles prepared from such copolymers by precipitation method display stability, enhanced (>5-10 times) brightness under one- and two-photon excitation, compatibility with ratiometric and lifetime-based imaging modes, and low toxicity for cells. Their cell-staining properties can be modulated with positively and negatively charged groups grafted to the backbone. The "zwitter-ionic" nanoparticles show high cell-staining efficiency, while their cell entry mechanisms differ for the different 3D models. When injected in the bloodstream, the cationic and anionic nanoparticles show similar distribution in vivo. These features and tunable properties make the conjugated polymer based phosphorescent nanoparticles a versatile tool for quantitative O2 imaging with a broad range of cell and 3D tissue models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan I Dmitriev
- †School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Sergey M Borisov
- ‡Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Heiko Düssmann
- §Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Centre for the Study of Neurological Disorders, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Shiwen Sun
- ‡Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Bernhard J Müller
- ‡Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Jochen Prehn
- §Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Centre for the Study of Neurological Disorders, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Vladimir P Baklaushev
- ∥Department of Medicinal Nanobiotechnology, Pirogov Russian State Medical University, Moscow 115682, Russia
- ⊥Federal Research Clinical Centre of Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ingo Klimant
- ‡Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Dmitri B Papkovsky
- †School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Dmitriev RI, Papkovsky DB. Intracellular probes for imaging oxygen concentration: how good are they? Methods Appl Fluoresc 2015; 3:034001. [DOI: 10.1088/2050-6120/3/3/034001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Huang SH, Yu CH, Chien YL. Light-addressable measurement of in vivo tissue oxygenation in an unanesthetized zebrafish embryo via phase-based phosphorescence lifetime detection. SENSORS 2015; 15:8146-62. [PMID: 25856326 PMCID: PMC4431297 DOI: 10.3390/s150408146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a digital light modulation system that utilizes a modified commercial projector equipped with a laser diode as a light source for quantitative measurements of in vivo tissue oxygenation in an unanesthetized zebrafish embryo via phase-based phosphorescence lifetime detection. The oxygen-sensitive phosphorescent probe (Oxyphor G4) was first inoculated into the bloodstream of 48 h post-fertilization (48 hpf) zebrafish embryos via the circulation valley to rapidly disperse probes throughout the embryo. The unanesthetized zebrafish embryo was introduced into the microfluidic device and immobilized on its lateral side by using a pneumatically actuated membrane. By controlling the illumination pattern on the digital micromirror device in the projector, the modulated excitation light can be spatially projected to illuminate arbitrarily-shaped regions of tissue of interest for in vivo oxygen measurements. We have successfully measured in vivo oxygen changes in the cardiac region and cardinal vein of a 48 hpf zebrafish embryo that experience hypoxia and subsequent normoxic conditions. Our proposed platform provides the potential for the real-time investigation of oxygen distribution in tissue microvasculature that relates to physiological stimulation and diseases in a developing organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Hao Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202-24, Taiwan.
- Center for Marine Mechatronic Systems, CMMS, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202-24, Taiwan.
| | - Chu-Hung Yu
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202-24, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Lung Chien
- Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202-24, Taiwan.
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Dmitriev RI, Papkovsky DB. Multi-parametric O₂ imaging in three-dimensional neural cell models with the phosphorescent probes. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1254:55-71. [PMID: 25431057 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2152-2_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent progress in bio-imaging has allowed detailed mechanistic studies of neural cell function in complex 3D tissue models including multicellular aggregates, neurospheres, excised brain slices, ganglia, and organoids. Molecular oxygen (O2 ) is an important metabolite and an environmental parameter which determines the viability and physiological status of neural cells within tissue. Here we describe standard method for monitoring O2 in 3D tissue models using phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (PLIM ) and cell-penetrating O2-sensing probes. The O2 probes can be multiplexed with many conventional fluorescence based live cell biomarkers and also end-point immunofluorescence staining. The multi-parametric O2 imaging method is particularly useful for areas such as stem cell development and differentiation , hypoxia research, neurodegenerative disorders, regeneration of brain tissue, evaluation of new drugs, and development of novel tissue models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan I Dmitriev
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cavanagh Pharmacy Building, College Road, Cork, Ireland,
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Dmitriev RI, Borisov SM, Kondrashina AV, Pakan JMP, Anilkumar U, Prehn JHM, Zhdanov AV, McDermott KW, Klimant I, Papkovsky DB. Imaging oxygen in neural cell and tissue models by means of anionic cell-permeable phosphorescent nanoparticles. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:367-81. [PMID: 25006059 PMCID: PMC11113450 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1673-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 06/20/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cell-permeable phosphorescent probes enable the study of cell and tissue oxygenation, bioenergetics, metabolism, and pathological states such as stroke and hypoxia. A number of such probes have been described in recent years, the majority consisting of cationic small molecule and nanoparticle structures. While these probes continue to advance, adequate staining for the study of certain cell types using live imaging techniques remains elusive; this is particularly true for neural cells. Here we introduce novel probes for the analysis of neural cells and tissues: negatively charged poly(methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid)-based nanoparticles impregnated with a phosphorescent Pt(II)-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtPFPP) dye (this form is referred to as PA1), and with an additional reference/antennae dye poly(9,9-diheptylfluorene-alt-9,9-di-p-tolyl-9H-fluorene) (this form is referred to as PA2). PA1 and PA2 are internalised by endocytosis, result in efficient staining in primary neurons, astrocytes, and PC12 cells and multi-cellular aggregates, and allow for the monitoring of local O(2) levels on a time-resolved fluorescence plate reader and PLIM microscope. PA2 also efficiently stains rat brain slices and permits detailed O(2) imaging experiments using both one and two-photon intensity-based modes and PLIM modes. Multiplexed analysis of embryonic rat brain slices reveals age-dependent staining patterns for PA2 and a highly heterogeneous distribution of O(2) in tissues, which we relate to the localisation of specific progenitor cell populations. Overall, these anionic probes are useful for sensing O(2) levels in various cells and tissues, particularly in neural cells, and facilitate high-resolution imaging of O(2) in 3D tissue models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan I Dmitriev
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland,
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Dmitriev RI, Zhdanov AV, Nolan YM, Papkovsky DB. Imaging of neurosphere oxygenation with phosphorescent probes. Biomaterials 2013; 34:9307-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.08.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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