Emissive terbium probe for multiphoton in vitro cell imaging

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Chemistry

Background:

• Near-infrared (NIR) excitation offers advantages for biological imaging due to deeper tissue penetration and reduced autofluorescence.
• Multiphoton absorption (MPA) techniques, particularly three-photon absorption (3PA), enhance spatial resolution and minimize photodamage.
• Development of novel luminescent probes compatible with NIR excitation and MPA is crucial for advanced bioimaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel polymeric terbium complex for NIR-excited multiphoton imaging.
• To evaluate the emission properties and cellular uptake of the terbium complex.
• To assess the in vitro cytotoxicity of the complex in various carcinoma cell lines.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a polymeric terbium complex.
• Characterization of optical properties, including three-photon absorption and emission.
• In vitro cell imaging experiments using three carcinoma cell lines (A549, HONE1, HeLa).
• Cytotoxicity assays to evaluate cell viability.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of a polymeric terbium complex with efficient near-infrared absorption at 800 nm.
• Demonstration of strong, observable three-photon-induced f-f emission from the terbium complex.
• Low cytotoxicity observed in A549, HONE1, and HeLa carcinoma cell lines, indicating good biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized polymeric terbium complex is a viable candidate for infrared excitation imaging dyes.
• The complex exhibits promising properties for advanced in vitro cell imaging applications.
• Further development could lead to novel tools for preclinical and clinical diagnostics.