Evaluation of phototoxicity of dendritic porphyrin-based phosphorescent oxygen probes: an in vitro study

Direct Measurements of FLASH-Induced Changes in Intracellular Oxygenation

PURPOSE

The goal of our study was to characterize the dynamics of intracellular oxygen during application of radiation at conventional (CONV) and FLASH dose rates and obtain evidence for or against the oxygen depletion hypothesis as a mechanism of the FLASH effect.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The measurements were performed by the phosphorescence quenching method using probe Oxyphor PtG4, which was delivered into the cellular cytosol by electroporation.

RESULTS

Intracellular radiochemical oxygen depletion (ROD) g-value for a dose rate of 100 Gy/s in the normoxic range was found to be 0.58 ± 0.03 μM/Gy. Intracellular ROD g-values for FLASH and CONV dose rates in the normoxic range were found to be nearly equal. As in solution-based studies, intracellular ROD was found to exhibit strong dependence on oxygen concentration in the range of 0 to ∼40 μM [O2].

CONCLUSIONS

Depletion of oxygen in cells in vitro by a clinical dose of proton radiation delivered as FLASH is unable to produce a transient state of hypoxia and, therefore, unable to induce radioprotection. The difference between ROD g-values for FLASH and CONV dose rates, detected previously in solutions-based experiments, disappears when measurements are conducted inside cells. Understanding this phenomenon should provide additional insight into the role of oxygen in FLASH radiation therapy and help to decipher the mechanism of the FLASH effect.

Selective Determination of Glutathione Using a Highly Emissive Fluorescent Probe Based on a Pyrrolidine-Fused Chlorin

We report the use of a carboxylated pyrrolidine-fused chlorin (TCPC) as a fluorescent probe for the determination of glutathione (GSH) in 7.4 pH phosphate buffer. TCPC is a very stable, highly emissive molecule that has been easily obtained from meso-tetrakis(4-methoxycarbonylphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) through a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition approach. First, we describe the coordination of TCPC with Hg(II) ions and the corresponding spectral changes, mainly characterized by a strong quenching of the chlorin emission band. Then, the TCPC-Hg²⁺ complex exhibits a significant fluorescence turn-on in the presence of low concentrations of the target analyte GSH. The efficacy of the sensing molecule was tested by using different TCPC:Hg²⁺ concentration ratios (1:2, 1:5 and 1:10) that gave rise to sigmoidal response curves in all cases with modulating detection limits, being the lowest 40 nM. The experiments were carried out under physiological conditions and the selectivity of the system was demonstrated against a number of potential interferents, including cysteine. Furthermore, the TCPC macrocycle did not showed a significant fluorescent quenching in the presence of other metal ions.

Unusual Reactivity and Metal Affinity of Water-Soluble Dipyrrins

Dipyrrins are a versatile class of organic ligands capable of fluorogenic complexation of metal ions. The primary goal of our study was to evaluate dipyrrins functionalized with ester and amide groups in 2,2'-positions in sensing applications. While developing the synthesis, we found that 3,3',4,4'-tetraalkyldipyrrins 2,2'-diesters as well as 2,2'-diamides can undergo facile addition of water at the meso-bridge, transforming into colorless meso-hydroxydipyrromethanes. Spectroscopic and computational investigation revealed that this transformation proceeds via dipyrrin cations, which exist in equilibrium with the hydroxydipyrromethanes. While trace amounts of acid favor conversion of dipyrrins to hydroxydipyrromethanes, excess acid shifts the equilibrium toward the cations. Similarly, the presence of Zn²⁺ facilitates elimination of water from hydroxydipyrromethanes with chromogenic regeneration of the dipyrrin system. In organic solutions in the presence of Zn²⁺, dipyrrin-2,2'-diesters exist as mixtures of mono-(LZnX) and bis-(L₂Zn) complexes. In L₂Zn, the dipyrrin ligands are oriented in a nonorthogonal fashion, causing strong exciton coupling. In aqueous solutions, dipyrrins bind Zn²⁺ in a 1:1 stoichiometry, forming mono-dipyrrinates (LZnX). Unexpectedly, dipyrrins with more electron-rich 2,2'-carboxamide groups revealed ∼20-fold lower affinity for Zn²⁺ than the corresponding 2,2'-diesters. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations with explicit inclusion of water reproduced the observed trends and allowed us to trace the low affinity of the dipyrrin-diamides to the stabilization of the corresponding free bases via hydrogen bonding with water molecules. Overall, our results reveal unusual trends in the reactivity of dipyrrins and provide clues for the design of dipyrrin-based sensors for biological applications.

Ru(ii)/BODIPY core co-encapsulated ratiometric nanotools for intracellular O2 sensing in live cancer cells

Oxygen is a crucial reagent in many biochemical processes within living cells and its concentration can be an effective marker in disease, particularly in cancer where tissue hypoxia has been shown to indicate tumour growth. Probes that can reflect the oxygen concentration and distribution using ratiometric signals can be applied to a range of conventional methods without the need for specialised equipment and are particularly useful. The preparation and in cellulo study of luminescent ratiometric core–shell nanoparticles are presented. Here, a new lipophilic and oxygen-responsive Ru(ii) tris-heteroleptic polypyridyl complex is co-encapsulated with a reference BODIPY dye into the core of poly-l-lysine-coated polystyrene particles. The co-core encapsulation ensures oxygen response but reduces the impact of the environment on both probes. Single wavelength excitation of the particles, suspended in aqueous buffer, at 480 nm, triggers well-resolved dual emission from both dyes with peak maxima at 515 nm and 618 nm. A robust ratiometric oxygen response is observed from water, with a linear dynamic range of 3.6–262 μM which matches well with typical biological ranges. The uptake of RuBDP NPs was found to be cell-line dependent, but in cancerous cell lines, the particles were strongly permeable with late endosomal and partial lysosomal co-staining observed within 3 to 4 hours, eventually leading to extensive staining of the cytoplasm. The co-localisation of the ruthenium and BODIPY emission confirms that the particles remain intact in cellulo with no indication of dye leaching. The ratiometric O₂ sensing response of the particles in cellulo was demonstrated using a plate-based assay and by confocal xyλ scanning of cells exposed to hypoxic conditions.

Uptake and quantitative ratiometric oxygen sensing response of core–shell nanoparticles containing ruthenium probe and BODIPY reference is demonstrated using a plate reader-based assay and by confocal xyλ scanning of live cancer cells under hypoxic conditions.

Water-Soluble Non-Ionic PEGylated Porphyrins: A Versatile Category of Dyes for Basic Science and Applications

This review arises from the need to rationalize the huge amount of information on the structural and spectroscopic properties of a peculiar class of porphyrin derivatives-the non-ionic PEGylated porphyrins-collected during almost two decades of research. The lack of charged groups in the molecular architecture of these porphyrin derivatives is the leitmotif of the work and plays an outstanding role in highlighting those interactions between porphyrins, or between porphyrins and target molecules (e.g., hydrophobic-, hydrogen bond related-, and coordination-interactions, to name just a few) that are often masked by stronger electrostatic contributions. In addition, it is exactly these weaker interactions between porphyrins that make the aggregated forms more prone to couple efficiently with external perturbative fields like weak hydrodynamic vortexes or temperature gradients. In the absence of charge, solubility in water is very often achieved by covalent functionalization of the porphyrin ring with polyethylene glycol chains. Various modifications, including of chain length or the number of chains, the presence of a metal atom in the porphyrin core, or having two or more porphyrin rings in the molecular architecture, result in a wide range of properties. These encompass self-assembly with different aggregate morphology, molecular recognition of biomolecules, and different photophysical responses, which can be translated into numerous promising applications in the sensing and biomedical field, based on turn-on/turn-off fluorescence and on photogeneration of radical species.

Tissue pO2 distributions in xenograft tumors dynamically imaged by Cherenkov-excited phosphorescence during fractionated radiation therapy

Hypoxia in solid tumors is thought to be an important factor in resistance to therapy, but the extreme microscopic heterogeneity of the partial pressures of oxygen (pO₂) between the capillaries makes it difficult to characterize the scope of this phenomenon without invasive sampling of oxygen distributions throughout the tissue. Here we develop a non-invasive method to track spatial oxygen distributions in tumors during fractionated radiotherapy, using oxygen-dependent quenching of phosphorescence, oxygen probe Oxyphor PtG4 and the radiotherapy-induced Cherenkov light to excite and image the phosphorescence lifetimes within the tissue. Mice bearing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and FaDu head neck cancer xenografts show different pO₂ responses during each of the 5 fractions (5 Gy per fraction), delivered from a clinical linear accelerator. This study demonstrates subsurface in vivo mapping of tumor pO₂ distributions with submillimeter spatial resolution, thus providing a methodology to track response of tumors to fractionated radiotherapy.

In vivo deep-tissue microscopy with UCNP/Janus-dendrimers as imaging probes: resolution at depth and feasibility of ratiometric sensing

Lanthanide-based upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are known for their remarkable ability to convert near-infrared energy into higher energy light, offering an attractive platform for construction of biological imaging probes. Here we focus on in vivo high-resolution microscopy - an application for which the opportunity to carry out excitation at low photon fluxes in non-linear regime makes UCNPs stand out among all multiphoton probes. To create biocompatible nanoparticles we employed Janus-type dendrimers as surface ligands, featuring multiple carboxylates on one 'face' of the molecule, polyethylene glycol (PEG) residues on another and Eriochrome Cyanine R dye as the core. The UCNP/Janus-dendrimers showed outstanding performance as vascular markers, allowing for depth-resolved mapping of individual capillaries in the mouse brain down to a remarkable depth of ∼1000 μm under continuous wave (CW) excitation with powers not exceeding 20 mW. Using a posteriori deconvolution, high-resolution images could be obtained even at high scanning speeds in spite of the blurring caused by the long luminescence lifetimes of the lanthanide ions. Secondly, the new UCNP/dendrimers allowed us to evaluate the feasibility of quantitative analyte imaging in vivo using a popular ratiometric UCNP-to-ligand excitation energy transfer (EET) scheme. Our results show that the ratio of UCNP emission bands, which for quantitative sensing should respond selectively to the analyte of interest, is also strongly affected by optical heterogeneities of the medium. On the other hand, the luminescence decay times of UCNPs, which are independent of the medium properties, are modulated via EET only insignificantly. As such, quantitative analyte sensing in biological tissues with UCNP-based probes still remains a challenge.

Oxyphor 2P: A High-Performance Probe for Deep-Tissue Longitudinal Oxygen Imaging

Quantitative imaging of oxygen distributions in tissue can provide invaluable information about metabolism in normal and diseased states. Two-photon phosphorescence lifetime microscopy (2PLM) has been developed to perform measurements of oxygen in vivo with micron-scale resolution in 3D; however, the method's potential has not yet been fully realized due to the limitations of current phosphorescent probe technology. Here, we report a new sensor, Oxyphor 2P, that enables oxygen microscopy twice as deep (up to 600 μm below the tissue surface) and with ∼60 times higher speed than previously possible. Oxyphor 2P allows longitudinal oxygen measurements without having to inject the probe directly into the imaged region. As proof of principle, we monitored oxygen dynamics for days following micro-stroke induced by occlusion of a single capillary in the mouse brain. Oxyphor 2P opens up new possibilities for studies of tissue metabolic states using 2PLM in a wide range of biomedical research areas.

Aggregate Formation of Oligonucleotides that Assist Molecular Imaging for Tracking of the Oxygen Status in Tumor Tissue

The use of DNA aggregates could be a promising strategy for the molecular imaging of biological functions. Herein, phosphorescent oligodeoxynucleotides were designed with the aim of visualizing oxygen fluctuation in tumor cells. DNA-ruthenium conjugates (DRCs) that consisted of oligodeoxynucleotides, a phosphorescent ruthenium complex, a pyrene unit for high oxygen responsiveness, and a nitroimidazole unit as a tumor-targeting unit were prepared. In general, oligonucleotides have low cell permeability because of their own negative charges; however, the DRC formed aggregates in aqueous solution due to the hydrophobic pyrene and nitroimidazole groups, and smoothly penetrated the cellular membrane to accumulate in tumor cells in a hypoxia-selective manner. The oxygen-dependent phosphorescence of DRC in cells was also observed. In vivo experiments revealed that aggregates of DRC accumulated in hypoxic tumor tissue that was transplanted into the left leg of mice, and showed that oxygen fluctuations in tumor tissue could be monitored by tracking of the phosphorescence emission of DRC.

Effect of PpIX photoproducts formation on pO2 measurement by time-resolved delayed fluorescence spectroscopy of PpIX in solution and in vivo

The measurement of Protoporphyrin IX delayed fluorescence lifetime is a minimally invasive method for monitoring the levels of oxygen in cells and tissues. The excitation of Protoporphyrin IX during this measurement can lead to the formation of photoproducts in vitro and in vivo. The influence of their luminescence on the measured Protoporphyrin IX delayed fluorescence lifetimes was studied in solution and in vivo on the Chick's chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model under various oxygen enriched air conditions (0mmHg, 37mmHg and 155mmHg). The presence of photoproducts disturbs such measurements since the delayed fluorescence emission of some of them spectrally overlaps with that of Protoporphyrin IX. One possible way to avoid this obstacle is to detect Protoporphyrin IX's delayed fluorescence lifetime in a very specific spectral range (620-640nm). Another possibility is to excite Protoporphyrin IX with light doses much lower than 10J/cm², quite possibly as low as a fraction 1J/cm² at 405nm. This leads to an increased accuracy of pO₂ detection. Furthermore, this method allows combination of diagnosis and therapy in one step. This helps to improve detection systems and real-time identification of tissue respiration, which is tuned for the detection of PpIX luminescence and not its photoproducts.

Quantitative monitoring of the level of singlet oxygen using luminescence spectra of phosphorescent photosensitizer

The lack of accurate and robust photodynamic therapy dosimetry is one of the obstacles for the widespread clinical applications. In this study, we propose a methodology to monitor the production of reactive oxygen species in real-time using the phosphorescent spectra of metalloporphyrin based photosensitizer. The correlation among the phosphorescence intensity, the (1)O(2) quantum yield (Φ(Δ)) and the oxygen concentration [O(2)] was established. A method of determining Φ(Δ) with different [O(2)] was studied based on comparative spectrophotometry, and the quantum yield Φ(Δ) of gadolinium metalated hematoporphyrin mono ether (Gd-HMME) in methanol was determined for different [O(2)]. With our method, both [O(2)] and Φ(Δ) could be monitored simultaneously using the phosphorescence spectra. The photochemical reactions in a liquid phantom composed of Gd-HMME and (1)O(2) capture 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) were correlated using the kinetics equations of singlet oxygen generation and reaction. Using our method, the (1)O(2) quantum yield becomes observable and the (1)O(2) dose rate could be calculated by the product of photosensitizer absorption and its (1)O(2) quantum yield. Moreover, this (1)O(2) dosimetry could be observed by spectral imaging intuitively without complex analysis, and is especially suitable for precise customized photodynamic treatment.

Emerging applications of porphyrins in photomedicine

Biomedical applications of porphyrins and related molecules have been extensively pursued in the context of photodynamic therapy. Recent advances in nanoscale engineering have opened the door for new ways that porphyrins stand to potentially benefit human health. Metalloporphyrins are inherently suitable for many types of medical imaging and therapy. Traditional nanocarriers such as liposomes, dendrimers and silica nanoparticles have been explored for photosensitizer delivery. Concurrently, entirely new classes of porphyrin nanostructures are being developed, such as smart materials that are activated by specific biochemicals encountered at disease sites. Techniques have been developed that improve treatments by combining biomaterials with photosensitizers and functional moieties such as peptides, DNA and antibodies. Compared to simpler structures, these more complex and functional designs can potentially decrease side effects and lead to safer and more efficient phototherapies. This review examines recent research on porphyrin-derived materials in multimodal imaging, drug delivery, bio-sensing, phototherapy and probe design, demonstrating their bright future for biomedical applications.

Correlation between intraluminal oxygen gradient and radial partitioning of intestinal microbiota

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The gut microbiota is a complex and densely populated community in a dynamic environment determined by host physiology. We investigated how intestinal oxygen levels affect the composition of the fecal and mucosally adherent microbiota.

METHODS

We used the phosphorescence quenching method and a specially designed intraluminal oxygen probe to dynamically quantify gut luminal oxygen levels in mice. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used to characterize the microbiota in intestines of mice exposed to hyperbaric oxygen, human rectal biopsy and mucosal swab samples, and paired human stool samples.

RESULTS

Average Po2 values in the lumen of the cecum were extremely low (<1 mm Hg). In altering oxygenation of mouse intestines, we observed that oxygen diffused from intestinal tissue and established a radial gradient that extended from the tissue interface into the lumen. Increasing tissue oxygenation with hyperbaric oxygen altered the composition of the gut microbiota in mice. In human beings, 16S ribosomal RNA gene analyses showed an increased proportion of oxygen-tolerant organisms of the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla associated with rectal mucosa, compared with feces. A consortium of asaccharolytic bacteria of the Firmicute and Bacteroidetes phyla, which primarily metabolize peptones and amino acids, was associated primarily with mucus. This could be owing to the presence of proteinaceous substrates provided by mucus and the shedding of the intestinal epithelium.

CONCLUSIONS

In an analysis of intestinal microbiota of mice and human beings, we observed a radial gradient of microbes linked to the distribution of oxygen and nutrients provided by host tissue.

Dual-Emissive Difluoroboron Naphthyl-Phenyl β-Diketonate Polylactide Materials: Effects of Heavy Atom Placement and Polymer Molecular Weight

Luminescent materials are important for imaging and sensing. Aromatic difluoroboron β-diketonate complexes (BF₂bdks) are classic fluorescent molecules that have been explored as photochemical reagents, two-photon dyes, and oxygen sensors. A series of BF₂bdks with naphthyl and phenyl groups was synthesized, and photophysical properties were investigated in both methylene chloride and poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Polymer molecular weight and dye attachment site along with bromide heavy atom placement were varied to tune optical properties of dye–PLA materials. Systems without heavy atoms have long phosphorescence lifetimes, which is useful for lifetime-based oxygen sensing. Bromine substitution on the naphthyl ring resulted in intense, clearly distinguishable fluorescence and phosphorescence peaks important for ratiometric oxygen sensing and imaging.

Optical methods for sensing and imaging oxygen: materials, spectroscopies and applications

We review the current state of optical methods for sensing oxygen. These have become powerful alternatives to electrochemical detection and in the process of replacing the Clark electrode in many fields. The article (with 694 references) is divided into main sections on direct spectroscopic sensing of oxygen, on absorptiometric and luminescent probes, on polymeric matrices and supports, on additives and related materials, on spectroscopic schemes for read-out and imaging, and on sensing formats (such as waveguide sensing, sensor arrays, multiple sensors and nanosensors). We finally discuss future trends and applications and summarize the properties of the most often used indicator probes and polymers. The ESI† (with 385 references) gives a selection of specific applications of such sensors in medicine, biology, marine and geosciences, intracellular sensing, aerodynamics, industry and biotechnology, among others.

Rational design of fluorophores for in vivo applications

Several classes of small organic molecules exhibit properties that make them suitable for fluorescence in vivo imaging. The most promising candidates are cyanines, squaraines, boron dipyrromethenes, porphyrin derivatives, hydroporphyrins, and phthalocyanines. The recent designing and synthetic efforts have been dedicated to improving their optical properties (shift the absorption and emission maxima toward longer wavelengths and increase the brightness) as well as increasing their stability and water solubility. The most notable advances include development of encapsulated cyanine dyes with increased stability and water solubility, squaraine rotaxanes with increased stability, long-wavelength-absorbing boron dipyrromethenes, long-wavelength-absorbing porphyrin and hydroporphyrin derivatives, and water-soluble phthalocyanines. Recent advances in luminescence and bioluminescence have made self-illuminating fluorophores available for in vivo applications. Development of new types of hydroporphyrin energy-transfer dyads gives the promise for further advances in in vivo multicolor imaging.

Syntheses and photodynamic properties of glucopyranoside-conjugated indium(III) porphyrins as a bifunctional agent

The glucopyranoside-conjugated porphyrins, H 2 TPP {p- O -( CH 2)2- O - OAcGlc } (1), [ InTPP {p- O -( CH 2)2- O - OAcGlc }] NO 3 (2), H 2 TPP {p- O -( CH 2)2- O - Glc } (3), [ InTPP {p- O -( CH 2)2- O - Glc ]- NO 3 (4) and ZnTPP {p- O -( CH 2)2- O - OAcGlc } (5) were synthesized, and characterized by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, ESI-MS, UV-vis spectroscopies and elemental analyses. In the 1 H NMR spectrum of 2, two sets of signals were observed for H -atoms of the phenyl group of porphyrin, indicating that 2 has the axial chirality due to a NO 3 ion coordinating to the indium atom. Abilities of the singlet oxygen production of these porphyrins, investigated by using 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) as a quencher, were higher than those of the free-based and zinc porphyrins, reflecting the heavy atom effect. The photodynamic properties of these porphyrin derivatives were investigated against COLO 679. All of the glucopyranoside-conjugated porphyrins exhibited the high photocytotoxicity compared with Laserphyrin®. Above all, 4 exhibited the highest photocytotoxicity, coinciding with the high abilities of this complex for the singlet oxygen production and the cell permeability.

FRET excited ratiometric oxygen sensing in living tissue

Dynamic analysis of oxygen (O₂) has been limited by the lack of a real-time, quantitative, and biocompatible sensor. To address these demands, we designed a ratiometric optode matrix consisting of the phosphorescence quenching dye platinum (II) octaethylporphine ketone (PtOEPK) and nanocystal quantum dots (NQDs), which when embedded within an inert polymer matrix allows long-term pre-designed excitation through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Depositing this matrix on various glass substrates allowed the development of a series of optical sensors able to measure interstitial oxygen concentration [O₂] with several hundred millisecond temporal resolution in varying biological microdomains of active brain tissue.

Indicators for optical oxygen sensors

Continuous monitoring of oxygen concentration is of great importance in many different areas of research which range from medical applications to food packaging. In the last three decades, significant progress has been made in the field of optical sensing technology and this review will highlight the one inherent to the development of oxygen indicators. The first section outlines the bioanalytical fields in which optical oxygen sensors have been applied. The second section gives the reader a comprehensive summary of the existing oxygen indicators with a critical highlight on their photophysical and sensing properties. Altogether, this review is meant to give the potential user a guide to select the most suitable oxygen indicator for the particular application of interest.

Phosphorescent nanoparticles for quantitative measurements of oxygen profiles in vitro and in vivo

We present the development and characterization of nanoparticles loaded with a custom phosphor; we exploit these nanoparticles to perform quantitative measurements of the concentration of oxygen within three-dimensional (3-D) tissue cultures in vitro and blood vessels in vivo. We synthesized a customized ruthenium (Ru)-phosphor and incorporated it into polymeric nanoparticles via self-assembly. We demonstrate that the encapsulated phosphor is non-toxic with and without illumination. We evaluated two distinct modes of employing the phosphorescent nanoparticles for the measurement of concentrations of oxygen: 1) in vitro, in a 3-D microfluidic tumor model via ratiometric measurements of intensity with an oxygen-insensitive fluorophore as a reference, and 2) in vivo, in mouse vasculature using measurements of phosphorescence lifetime. With both methods, we demonstrated micrometer-scale resolution and absolute calibration to the dissolved oxygen concentration. Based on the ease and customizability of the synthesis of the nanoparticles and the flexibility of their application, these oxygen-sensing polymeric nanoparticles will find a natural home in a range of biological applications, benefiting studies of physiological as well as pathological processes in which oxygen availability and concentration play a critical role.

Optical probes and techniques for O2 measurement in live cells and tissue

In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in the sensing and imaging of molecular oxygen (O₂) in biological samples containing live cells and tissue. We review recent developments in the measurement of O₂ in such samples by optical means, particularly using the phosphorescence quenching technique. The main types of soluble O₂ sensors are assessed, including small molecule, supramolecular and particle-based structures used as extracellular or intracellular probes in conjunction with different detection modalities and measurement formats. For the different O₂ sensing systems, particular attention is paid to their merits and limitations, analytical performance, general convenience and applicability in specific biological applications. The latter include measurement of O₂ consumption rate, sample oxygenation, sensing of intracellular O₂, metabolic assessment of cells, and O₂ imaging of tissue, vasculature and individual cells. Altogether, this gives the potential user a comprehensive guide for the proper selection of the appropriate optical probe(s) and detection platform to suit their particular biological applications and measurement requirements.

Two new "protected" oxyphors for biological oximetry: properties and application in tumor imaging

We report the synthesis, calibration, and examples of application of two new phosphorescent probes, Oxyphor R4 and Oxyphor G4, optimized specifically for in vivo oxygen imaging by phosphorescence quenching. These "protected" dendritic probes can operate in either albumin-rich (blood plasma) or albumin-free (interstitial space) environments at all physiological oxygen concentrations, from normoxic to deep hypoxic conditions. Oxyphors R4 and G4 are derived from phosphorescent Pd-meso-tetra-(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)-porphyrin (PdP) or Pd-meso-tetra-(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)-tetrabenzoporphyrin (PdTBP), respectively, and possess features common for protected dendritic probes, i.e., hydrophobic dendritic encapsulation of phosphorescent metalloporphyrins and hydrophilic PEGylated periphery. The new Oxyphors are highly soluble in aqueous environments and do not permeate biological membranes. The probes were calibrated under physiological conditions (pH 6.4-7.8) and temperatures (22-38 °C), showing high stability, reproducibility of signals, and lack of interactions with biological solutes. Oxyphor G4 was used to dynamically image intravascular and interstitial oxygenation in murine tumors in vivo. The physiological relevance of the measurements was demonstrated by dynamically recording changes in tissue oxygenation during application of anesthesia (isofluorane). These experiments revealed that changes in isofluorane concentration significantly affect tissue oxygenation.

Intracellular O2 sensing probe based on cell-penetrating phosphorescent nanoparticles

A new intracellular O(2) (icO(2)) sensing probe is presented, which comprises a nanoparticle (NP) formulation of a cationic polymer Eudragit RL-100 and a hydrophobic phosphorescent dye Pt(II)-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtPFPP). Using the time-resolved fluorescence (TR-F) plate reader set-up, cell loading was investigated in detail, particularly the effects of probe concentration, loading time, serum content in the medium, cell type, density, etc. The use of a fluorescent analogue of the probe in conjunction with confocal microscopy and flow cytometry analysis, revealed that cellular uptake of the NPs is driven by nonspecific energy-dependent endocytosis and that the probe localizes inside the cell close to the nucleus. Probe calibration in biological environment was performed, which allowed conversion of measured phosphorescence lifetime signals into icO(2) concentration (μM). Its analytical performance in icO(2) sensing experiments was demonstrated by monitoring metabolic responses of mouse embryonic fibroblast cells under ambient and hypoxic macroenvironment. The NP probe was seen to generate stable and reproducible signals in different types of mammalian cells and robust responses to their metabolic stimulation, thus allowing accurate quantitative analysis. High brightness and photostability allow its use in screening experiments with cell populations on a commercial TR-F reader, and for single cell analysis on a fluorescent microscope.