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Graphene Enclosure of Chemically Fixed Mammalian Cells for Liquid-Phase Electron Microscopy
Published on: September 21, 2020
Cell imaging by graphene oxide based on surface enhanced Raman scattering.
Qinghai Liu1, Li Wei, Jinyong Wang
1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Nanoscale
|October 17, 2012
Summary
Graphene oxide (GO) shows promise for cell imaging, but its weak Raman signal limits use. Decorating GO with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) significantly amplifies the Raman signal, enabling rapid cell imaging and study of nanoparticle-cell interactions.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Materials Science
Background:
- Graphene oxide (GO) offers good water solubility and biocompatibility.
- GO's characteristic G band in Raman spectra suggests potential for Raman imaging.
- Weak G band intensity currently limits GO's application in bioimaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the Raman signal of graphene oxide for improved bioimaging.
- To investigate the use of gold nanoparticle-decorated GO (Au/GO) as a Raman probe.
- To study the cellular uptake mechanisms of GO and Au/GO hybrids.
Main Methods:
- Decoration of graphene oxide (GO) with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs).
- Characterization of Au/GO hybrids in aqueous dispersions.
- Raman mapping and imaging of Hela 229 cells using Au/GO as probes.
- Investigation of cell internalization pathways via Raman imaging.
Main Results:
- Au NP decoration significantly enhanced the Raman intensity of GO via surface enhancement effect.
- Rapid Raman imaging of Hela 229 cells was achieved using Au/GO hybrids.
- An endocytosis pathway was proposed for the cellular internalization of GO and Au/GO.
- Au/GO hybrid dispersions demonstrated stability for several weeks.
Conclusions:
- Au/GO hybrids overcome the limitation of weak Raman signal in GO.
- Au/GO serves as an effective Raman probe for rapid and high-sensitivity bioimaging.
- Raman imaging with Au/GO can elucidate cellular internalization mechanisms.
- GO, enhanced by Au NPs, holds significant potential as a versatile Raman imaging tool for biosystems.
