Laser-scanning confocal imaging of calcium in spontaneously contracting cardiac cells: nuclear-cytosolic Ca differences

Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) of Ca²⁺ -sensitive fluorophores was used to investigate Ca²⁺ oscillations in the nuclear environment of spontaneously contracting, isolated, rat cardiac myocytes. LSCM allowed for clear separation of the intranuclear and cytosolic Ca²⁺ changes that resulted from the sponteneous local elevations of Ca²⁺ that propagated in these cells. While we were not able to resolve any clear differences in the timecourse of the elevation of Ca²⁺ in some of these cells, the rate of sequestration of nuclear Ca²⁺ could be seen to clearly lag behind that of the neighboring cytosol. This resulted in distinct images of cells transiently showing significantly higher nuclear than cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels. The enhanced spatial resolution and rejection of out-of-focus information of confocal microscopy, are important features of this technique, that will allow for the detailed analysis of the spatial and temporal second messenger responses of living cells and tissues.     

氧化还原条件变化对上覆水体中溶解有机质的三维荧光光谱特征影响

利用三维荧光光谱(3EEMs)技术,考察了不同氧化还原条件对上覆水体中溶解有机质的三维荧光光谱特征的影响。好氧条件下上覆水体中DOM的荧光指数要高于厌氧条件,说明在不同的氧化还原条件下,上覆水体中DOM来源和组成均存在一定的差异性。上覆水体的三维荧光光谱特征也存在显著差异:好氧条件下,上覆水体中的类蛋白荧光峰强度均高于腐殖质类荧光峰强度,且三维荧光光谱图显示腐殖质类DOM存在氧化降解现象。厌氧条件下,上覆水体中腐殖质类荧光峰的强度随培养天数逐渐增加,当厌氧培养时间为21 d,C和D荧光峰的强度已分别上升至初始的3.51和3.78倍。在不同的氧化还原条件下,类蛋白和类腐殖质类DOM荧光峰位置和强度的变化,表明不同类型DOM的生物可利用性程度和在沉积物-水界面间迁移转化特征的差异性。     

Stationary spectroscopy of biotissues in vivo: Fluorescent studies of some pathological states

The stationary spectra of autofluorescence, along with the reflection coefficient at the wavelength of excitation, are measured in vivo for some stomach tissues in the case of different pathological states (dysplasia, superficial gastritis, and cancer) using a nitrogen laser as the source of excitation (λ_rad=337.1 nm). The fluorescence spectra obtained are decomposed into Gaussian-Lorentzian components. It is found that, in development of dysplasia and tumor processes, at least seven groups of fluorophores can be distinguished that form the entire emission spectrum. The ratio between the fluorescence intensities of flavins and NAD(P)H is determined and the degree of respiratory activity of cells estimated for the states considered. The quantum yields of fluorescence of the biotissues under investigation are estimated.     

Synthesis of novel fluorescently labeled water-soluble fullerenes and their application to its cellar uptake and distribution properties

Fullerene is a well-known carbon nanomaterial, which can be potentially used for drug manufacture or delivery. Despite several successful examples of utilizing fullerene derivatives as drug candidate materials, their low water solubility under physiological conditions negatively affects the cell penetration efficiency after treatment. In this work, we successfully synthesized two fullerene derivatives with covalently attached fluorescein and boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) fluorophore moieties, which exhibited cellular uptake and intracellular localization. While both fluorophores decreased their fluorescence intensity in the vicinity of fullerene, the cellar uptake of the fluorescein-modified fullerene was detected via fluorescence microscopy observations. Moreover, decreases in the fluorescence intensities of the intact fluorescein and BODIPY species were observed when both fluorophores and fullerene coexisted in aqueous media.     

Long-term luminescence of organic dyes in cells of biological tissues

We studied the kinetics of delayed fluorescence and phosphoresce of exogenous fluorophores in cells extracted from tumorous and normal tissues of the mammary gland of mice of the BYRB strain. We revealed the specifics and determined regularities of the kinetics of long-term luminescence of fluorophores in different cells. The possibility of developing of a method for the early fluorescence diagnostics of the pathology of biotissues based on the obtained results is discussed.     

Complementary Methods of Processing diS-C3(3) Fluorescence Spectra Used for Monitoring the Plasma Membrane Potential of Yeast: Their Pros and Cons

Carbocyanine dye diS-C₃(3) was repeatedly employed in monitoring the plasma membrane potential of yeast and other living cells. Four methods of measuring and evaluating probe fluorescence signal were used in different studies, based on following fluorescence parameters: fluorescence intensity emitted within a certain spectral interval, F(580)/F(560) fluorescence emission ratio, wavelength of emission spectrum maximum, and the ratio of respective fluorescence intensities corresponding to the diS-C₃(3) bound to cytosolic macromolecules and remaining dissolved in the aqueous cell medium (i.e., unbound, or free). Here we show that data corresponding to the three latter spectral assessments of diS-C₃(3) accumulation in cells is mutually convertible, which means that their alternative use cannot lead to ambiguities in the interpretation of the results of biological experiments. On the other hand, experiments based on the effortless measurements of fluorescence intensities should be interpreted cautiously because controversial results can be obtained, depending on the particular choice of cell-to-dye concentration ratio and emission wavelength.     

Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence from Plastic Substrates

We report the first findings of Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) from modified plastic substrates. In the past several years our laboratories have reported the favorable effects of fluorophores in close proximity to silver nanoparticles. These effects include, enhanced fluorescence intensities, (increased detectability), and reduced lifetimes, (enhanced fluorophore photostability). All of these reports have featured silver nanostructures and fluorophores which have been immobilized onto clean glass or quartz surfaces. In this report we show how plastic surfaces can be modified to obtain surface functionality, which in turn allows for silver deposition and therefore metal-enhanced fluorescence of fluorophores positioned above the silver using a protein spacer. Our findings show that plastic substrates are ideal surfaces for metal-enhanced phenomena, producing similar enhancements as compared to clean glass surfaces. Subsequently, we speculate that plastic substrates for MEF will find common place, as compared to the more expensive and less versatile traditional silica based supports.     

Ophthalmic Glucose Monitoring Using Disposable Contact Lenses—A Review

We have developed a range of disposable and colorless tear glucose sensing contact lenses, using off-the-shelf lenses embedded with new water soluble, highly fluorescent and glucose sensitive boronic acid containing fluorophores. The new lenses are readily able to track tear glucose levels and therefore blood glucose levels, which are ideally suited for potential use by diabetics. The fluorescence responses from the lenses can be monitored using simple excitation and emission detection devices. The novelty of our approach is two fold. Firstly, the notion of sensing extremely low glucose concentrations in tears, which track blood levels, by our contact lens approach, and secondly, the unique compatibility of our new glucose signaling probes with the internal mildly acidic contact lens environment. The new lenses are therefore ideal for the non-invasive and continuous monitoring of tear glucose, with about 15-min response time, and a measured shelf life in excess of 3 months. In this review article, we show that fluorescence based signaling using plastic disposable lenses, which have already been industrially optimized with regard to vision correction and oxygen/analyte permeability etc, may a notable alternative to invasive and random finger pricking, the most widely used glucose monitoring technology by diabetics.     

Fluorescence lifetime imaging with a low-repetition-rate passively mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 oscillator

We report a wide-field fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope based on a low-repetition-rate (3.7-MHz) passively mode-locked diode-pumped laser source. This inexpensive and compact laser source operating in the visible and UV range can excite a wide range of fluorophores of biological interest. We demonstrate that the power of this laser source is highly sufficient for studying biological systems with low quantum yields (autofluorescence of tissues and stained living cells). The maximum measurable lifetime is also strongly increased with this laser source, as fluorescence intensity measurement can occur 250 ns after the excitation pulse.     

Simultaneous fluorometry and phosphorometry of Langendorff perfused rat heart: ex vivo animal studies

Fluorescence imaging of intrinsic fluorophores of tissue is a powerful method to assess metabolic changes at the cellular and intracellular levels. At the same time, exogenous phosphorescent probes can be used to accurately measure intravascular tissue oxygenation. Heart failure is the leading cause of death in America. A rat heart can potentially model the human heart to study failures or other abnormalities optically. We report simultaneous fluorescence and phosphorescence measurements performed on a rat heart. We have used two different optical systems to acquire fluorescence signals of flavoprotein and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide--the two intrinsic fluorophores of mitochondria--and the phosphorescence signal of an intravascular oxygen probe to extract intracellular and intravascular metabolism loads, respectively.     

Radiationless deactivation of hybridization-sensitive DNA probe

In this study we attempt to determine the deactivation mechanism of a hybridization-sensitive DNA probe by using steady state absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Thiazole orange or 2,2′-Methylenebis(N-alkylbenzothiazole) is covalently linked to a single nucleotide in the DNA probe. Radiationless deactivation of the fluorophores is mainly determined by photo-induced isomerization of the methine bridge. Experiments done using solutes of differing molecular weight (sucrose, glucose and glycerin) to provide solutions of similar viscosity reveals the importance of solution viscosity and fluorophore conformation on radiationless deactivation. The quantum yield of the fluorophore in high viscous solutions can be explained by a simple diffusion model. This linear relationship is broken when a dimer conformation of the fluorophore starts to form, which in turn influences the emission intensity of the fluorophore.     

Photoswitching microscopy with standard fluorophores

We introduce far-field subdiffraction-resolution fluorescence imaging based on photoswitching of individual standard fluorophores in air-saturated solution. Here, photoswitching microscopy relies on the light-induced switching of organic fluorophores (ATTO 655 and ATTO 680) into long-lived metastable dark states and spontaneous repopulation of the fluorescent state. In the presence of low concentrations (2–10 mM) of reducing, thiol-containing compounds such as ß-mercaptoethylamine or glutathione, the density of fluorescent molecules can be adjusted to enable multiple localizations of individual fluorophores with an experimental accuracy of ～20 nm. The method requires wide-field illumination with only a single laser beam for readout and photoswitching and provides superresolution fluorescence images of intracellular structures under live cell compatible conditions.     

同步荧光光谱法研究肿瘤芳香族氨基酸残基含量的变化

用同步荧光光谱法评估原发性肝细胞癌患者血浆、肝癌荷瘤小鼠以及培养细胞(HepG2和HL-7702)中酪氨酸(Tyr)和色氨酸(Trp)残基水平变化。固定发射波长λ_em和激发波长λ_ex之间的波长差Δλ分别为20和60 nm,激发和发射单色器同时进行扫描,确定350 nm为Trp的同步特征发射峰位置,318 nm为Tyr的同步特征发射峰位置。结果表明,肝癌患者及荷瘤小鼠血浆蛋白质所含Tyr和Trp残基的荧光强度明显增加。相反,肝癌细胞或荷瘤小鼠肿瘤组织中Tyr和Trp残基荧光强度却随生长时间增长而减少。进一步实验表明,具有抗癌活性的苦参碱处理癌细胞后,细胞Tyr和Trp残基的荧光强度升高。这些结果表明,Tyr和Trp残基的变化可能参与了肿瘤的发生发展。     

Group Theoretical Calculation for Infrared Spectra of Triatomic Molecules

The rotation-vibration levels of the molecule COS are described using the model U(5). The transition matrix elements for the molecular levels are calculated by means of a group theoretical approach. The infrared absorption line intensities for the molecule COS are calculated. The results are in good agreement with the experimental values. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Spatial Localization of Biosensor Fluorescence Signals in Human Skin under the Effect of Eequalization of the Refractive Index of the Surrounding Medium

A priority line of biomedical applications of optics is the development of noninvasive diagnostic methods based on the scanning of fluorescence radiation of biosensors embedded in biological tissue. Their main advantage is a high sensitivity and selectivity with respect to given parameters of tissues and their variations. In this study, we present a method for and results of modeling of excitation and propagation of fluorescence radiation in a multilayer randomly inhomogeneous highly scattering and absorbing medium imitating human skin. The model takes into account the spatially inhomogeneous distribution of skin fluorophores and their photophysical characteristics. Both the spatial distribution of fluorescence of skin tissues and the possibility of localization of a detected fluorescence signal are studied. The spatial distribution of fluorescence centers (fluorophores) in the medium is assumed to closely follow the spatial distribution of collagen fibers of the skin. The equalization of the refractive indices at the air-skin interface is shown to lead to a higher degree of localization of the fluorescence signal detected from a biosensor located in a near-surface skin layer.     

拟威布尔分布密度函数在荧光寿命成像数据分析中的应用

荧光寿命法成像技术(FLIM)是一种非常有效、功能强大且能用来分析复杂生物组织和细胞分子的成像技术。传统的荧光寿命成像的数据分析,按某些具有不同寿命、离散的单参量指数模型来描述荧光衰减过程。在生物组织这样既复杂又不均匀的样品中,虽然多参量指数模型能提供比单参量指数模型对实验数据更好的拟合效果,但是离散多参量的假定往往是随意的。提出了拟威布尔分布密度函数可能是生物荧光分子团衰减动力过程的真实再现,并且通过计算证明,对于某些生化感兴趣的荧光分子团的多槽基面效价测定样品的数据,相对于单参量指数与多参量指数衰减函数有更好的一致性。同时讨论了将该荧光衰减模型应用于荧光寿命成像的前景。     

Double Labeling and Simultaneous Detection of B- and T Cells Using Fluorescent Nano-Crystal (q-dots) in Paraffin-Embedded Tissues

A double immunohistochemical technique for the simultaneous detection of T- and B cells in paraffin-embedded mice tissues have been developed. This procedure is based on using fluorescent nano-crystals (q-dots). The benefit of using q-dots evolves from their unique fluorescence characteristics advantages: such as broad excitation spectrum, narrow emission band and high photo-bleaching threshold compare to organic fluorophores. T cells antigens (CD3) were stained using antibody-coated q-dots with max emission at 655 nm (GαRb-QD655). B cells antigens (CD45R/B220) were stained using streptavidin-coated q-dots with max emission at 585 nm (SA-QD585). The simultaneous detection of T- and B cells was demonstrated in paraffin-embedded lymph node using standard fluorescence microscope.     

Turbidity-free fluorescence spectroscopy of biological tissue

We present a method based on photon migration of extracting intrinsic fluorescence spectra from turbid media, using concomitantly measured fluorescence and reflectance. Intrinsic fluorescence is defined as fluorescence that is due only to fluorophores, without interference from the absorbers and scatterers that are present. Application to fluorescence spectra taken with tissue phantoms and human mucosal tissues demonstrates excellent agreement in both spectral line shape and intensity between the extracted and the directly measured intrinsic fluorescence spectra.     

Laser-induced autofluorescence for medical diagnosis

The naturally occurring autofluorescence of cells and tissues is based on biomolecules containing intrinsic fluorophores, such as porphyrins, the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine, and the coenzymes NADH, NADPH, and flavins. Coenzymes fluoresce in the blue/green spectral region (fluorecence lifetimes: 0.5–6 ns) and are highly sensitive indicators of metabolic function. Steadystate and time-resolved blue-green autofluorescence is, therefore, an appropriate measure of the function of the respiratory chain as well as of cellular and tissue damage. Autofluorescence in the yellow/red spectral region is based mainly on endogenous porphyrins and metalloporphyrins, such as coproporphyrin, protoporphyrin (fluorescence lifetime of porphyrin monomers: >10 ns), and Zn-protoporphyrin (2 ns). Various pathological microorganisms such asPropionibacterium acnes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Actinomyces odontolyticus, Bacteroides intermedius, andSaccharomyces cerevisiae are able to synthesize large amounts of these fluorophores and can therefore be located. This permits fluorescence-based detection of a variety of diseases, including early-stage dental caries, dental plaque, acne vulgaris, otitis externa, and squamous cell carcinoma. The sensitivity of noninvasive autofluorescence diagnostics can be enhanced by time-gated fluorescence measurements using an appropriate time delay between ultrashort laser excitation and detection. For example, videocameras with ultrafast shutters, in the nanosecond region, can be used to create caries images of the teeth. Alternatively, autofluorescence can be enhanced by stimulating protoporphyrin biosynthesis with the exogenously administered porphyrin precursor 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). The fluorophore protoporphyrin IX (PP IX) is photolabile and photodynamically active. Irradiation of PP IX-containing tissue results in cytotoxic reactions which correlate with modifications in fluorescence due to photobleaching and singlet oxygen-dependent photoproduct formation. Therefore, on-line autofluorescence measurements during the phototreatment can yield information on the efficiency of ALA-based photodynamic therapy.     

眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞脂褐素及氧化黑色素自体荧光寿命成像研究

利用一种基于时间相关单光子计数器的双光子激发荧光寿命显微成像技术,对猪眼底视网膜色素上皮层细胞内的脂褐素和氧化黑色素颗粒的空间分布及其荧光寿命特性进行了研究,尤其对于这些色素颗粒在光致氧化环境中的荧光寿命差异进行了分析.结果表明,利用荧光寿命测量能有效区分视网膜色素上皮层细胞中的多组分荧光团,利用荧光寿命的衰减参数可分辨正常及异常的荧光现象.该方法有望发展成为一种用于眼科临床诊断及病理学研究的高灵敏度的工具,对眼底细胞随年龄增长的衰老机理的研究具有重要的意义. 关键词： 双光子激发荧光 荧光寿命成像 视网膜色素上皮层