Toward plasmonics-enabled spatiotemporal activity patterns in three-dimensional culture models.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Protease activity, including matrix metalloproteinases and cysteine proteases, is crucial for tissue morphogenesis and repair.
• Understanding spatiotemporal protease activity patterns in vivo is challenging.
• Three-dimensional (3D) culture models offer a more physiologically relevant platform for studying protease activity compared to 2D cultures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review methods for imaging spatiotemporal protease activity patterns in 3D culture models.
• To highlight advancements in imaging technologies for studying protease dynamics.
• To discuss the potential of these methods for understanding tissue development and disease.

Main Methods:

• Review of fluorogenic modification strategies targeting the extracellular matrix or specific proteases.
• Discussion of qualitative imaging techniques for protease activity in 3D models.
• Highlighting emerging plasmonic imaging methods.

Main Results:

• Fluorogenic methods enable qualitative imaging of protease activity in 3D cultures.
• Plasmonic methods demonstrate significant improvements in spatial and temporal resolution.
• Emerging techniques show potential for quantitative measurement of protease activity.

Conclusions:

• Imaging spatiotemporal protease activity in 3D models provides insights into tissue morphogenesis.
• Advanced imaging techniques, particularly plasmonics, are crucial for quantitative analysis.
• These advancements may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for tissue repair.