Particle tracking in living cells: a review of the mean square displacement method and beyond

The focus of many particle tracking experiments in the last decade has been active systems, such as living cells. In active systems, the particles undergo simultaneous active and thermally driven transport. In contrast to thermally driven transport, particle motion driven by active processes cannot directly be correlated to the rheology of the probed region. The rheology in particle tracking experiments is typically obtained through the mean square displacements (MSD) of the trajectories. Hence, the MSD and its functional form remain the only basic tools to evaluate and compare living cells or other active systems. However, the mechano-structural characteristics of the intracellular environment and the mechanisms driving particle transport cannot be revealed by the MSD alone. Hence, approaches for advanced analysis of particle trajectories have been introduced recently. Here, we present a broad review of the extensive intracellular particle tracking experiments that have been carried out on a wide variety of cell types. Those works utilize the MSD, revealing similarities and differences relating to cell type and experimental setup. We also highlight several advanced trajectory-and displacement-based analysis methods and illustrate their capabilities using particle tracking data obtained from two cancer cell lines. We show that combining these analysis methods with the MSD can reveal additional information on intracellular structure and the existence and nature of active processes driving particle motion in cells.     

Synthesis,characterization, and electrochemical properties of new water-soluble Mn12O12(O2CR)16(H2O)4 clusters

Abstract

We report our attempts to produce water-soluble Mn clusters of the type [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CR)₁₆(H₂O)₄] and the synthesis, spectroscopic, structural, and electrochemical characterization of the three new compounds that were obtained. Clusters 2, 3, and 4 were prepared via substitution of the acetate ligands in [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CMe)₁₆(H₂O)₄] (1) with either 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid, L-proline or L-ascorbic acid, respectively, which are all inexpensive and readily available. Clusters 2, 3, and 4 were characterized by elemental analysis, UV-Vis, and FTIR spectroscopies, XPS, MS, and XRD analysis, suggesting that the clusters retain their structure during the substitution reaction, albeit 4 was obtained partially substituted and reduced. Electrochemical measurements in acetate buffer at pH 6, including continuous cyclic voltammetry scans of the free ligands and of the clusters, imply that 4 is stable to the oxidation process, while in 2 the primary amine ligands are oxidized rapidly, leading to precipitation of the cluster. Overall, the voltammetric measurements support the spectroscopic-based proposed structures.     

Spin diffusion and nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in irradiated solids: a multiple-pulse NQR study

We present a detailed theoretical and experimental NQR multiple-pulse spin-locking study of spin-lattice relaxation and spin diffusion processes in the presence of paramagnetic impurities in solids. The relaxation function of the nuclear spin system at the beginning of the relaxation process is given by exp , where T_1ρ is spin-lattice relaxation time in rotating frame and =d/6, d is the sample dimensionality. Then the relaxation proceeds asymptotically to an exponential function of time, which was attributed to the spin-diffusion regime. Using the experimental data obtained from the analysis of those two relaxation regimes in γ-irradiated powdered NaClO₃, spin diffusion coefficient has been determined and the radius of the diffusion barrier has been estimated.     

Ultrafast excited-state intermolecular proton transfer of cyanine fluorochrome dyes

Steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy techniques were employed to study the excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) to water and D(2)O from QCy7, a recently synthesized near-infrared (NIR)-emissive dye with a fluorescence band maximum at 700 nm. We found that the ESPT rate constant, k(PT), of QCy7 excited from its protonated form, ROH, is ~1.5 × 10(12) s(-1). This is the highest ever reported value in the literature thus far, and it is comparable to the reciprocal of the longest solvation dynamics time component in water, τ(S) = 0.8 ps. We found a kinetic isotope effect (KIE) on the ESPT rate of ~1.7. This value is lower than that of weaker photoacids, which usually have KIE value of ~3, but comparable to the KIE on proton diffusion in water of ~1.45, for which the average time of proton transfer between adjacent water molecules is similar to that of QCy7.     

Facile syntheses of 3-hydroxyflavones

Modification of the present synthetic methods led to the syntheses of 3-hydroxyflavones in a shorter reaction time, with simple purification and higher yields. Application of the method provided the syntheses of 3HFs having a hydroxyl group on the phenyl ring (ring B) in one step, which is an improvement compared to the four steps, long reaction time, and low yield using the current method available in the literature.     

Ultrafast proton transfer of three novel quinone cyanine photoacids

Steady-state and time-resolved emission techniques were used to study the photoprotolytic properties of three recently synthesized strong quinone cyanine photoacids (QCy7 and its sulfonated derivatives). The rate coefficient of the excited-state proton transfer (ESPT), k(PT), of the three dyes is roughly 1.5 × 10(12) s(-1), a high value that is comparable to the solvation dynamics rate of large polar organic molecules in H(2)O and D(2)O. It is twice as fast as the proton transfer rate between two adjacent water molecules in liquid water. We found that, as expected, two of the sulfonated photoacids geminately recombines with the proton at an elevated rate. The accelerated geminate recombination process of the sulfonated derivatives is different from a simple diffusion process of protons. The ESPT rate coefficient of these molecules is the highest recorded thus far.     

Quantum cryptography using partially entangled states

We show that non-maximally entangled states can be used to build a quantum key distribution (QKD) scheme where the key is probabilistically teleported from Alice to Bob. This probabilistic aspect of the protocol ensures the security of the key without the need of non-orthogonal states to encode it, in contrast to other QKD schemes. Also, the security and key transmission rate of the present protocol is nearly equivalent to those of standard QKD schemes and these aspects can be controlled by properly harnessing the new free parameter in the present proposal, namely, the degree of partial entanglement. Furthermore, we discuss how to build a controlled QKD scheme, also based on partially entangled states, where a third party can decide whether or not Alice and Bob are allowed to share a key.     

The effects of rotation on NMR linewidths in nematic solvents

The broadening of the NMR lines of a solute dissolved in a nematic solvent upon spinning of the sample is interpreted. This model is used to fit the broadening of the NMR lines of 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobenzene dissolved in EBBA.     

A unique paradigm for a Turn-ON near-infrared cyanine-based probe: noninvasive intravital optical imaging of hydrogen peroxide

The development of highly sensitive fluorescent probes in combination with innovative optical techniques is a promising strategy for intravital noninvasive quantitative imaging. Cyanine fluorochromes belong to a superfamily of dyes that have attracted substantial attention in probe design for molecular imaging. We have developed a novel paradigm to introduce a Turn-ON mechanism in cyanine molecules, based on a distinctive change in their π-electrons system. Our new cyanine fluorochrome is synthesized through a simple two-step procedure and has an unprecedented high fluorescence quantum yield of 16% and large extinction coefficient of 52,000 M(-1)cm(-1). The synthetic strategy allows one to prepare probes for various analytes by introducing a specific triggering group on the probe molecule. The probe was equipped with a corresponding trigger and demonstrated efficient imaging of endogenous hydrogen peroxide, produced in an acute lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation model in mice. This approach provides, for the first time, an available methodology to prepare modular molecular Turn-ON probes that can release an active cyanine fluorophore upon reaction with specific analyte.