Time-Resolved Fluorescent Imaging of Glucose

A method for the fluorescent imaging of glucose is described that is based on the detection of enzymatically produced hydrogen peroxide, using the europium(III) tetracycline complex as the fluorescent probe incorporated into a hydrophilic polymer layer. Coadsorption of glucose oxidase (GOx) makes these sensor layers respond to the hydrogen peroxide produced by the GOx-assisted oxidation of glucose. The hydrogel layers are integrated into a 96-microwell plate for a parallel and simultaneous detection of various samples. Glucose is visualized by means of time resolved luminescence lifetime imaging. Unlike in previous methods, the determination of H₂O₂ does not require the addition of peroxidase or a catalyst to form a fluorescent product. The lifetime-based images obtained are compared with conventional fluorescence intensity-based methods with respect to sensitivity and the dynamic range of the sensor layer. The main advantages provided by this sensing scheme for H₂O₂ include reversibility, applicability at neutral pH, and the straightforwardness of the transducer system and the imaging device.