A high precision apparatus for intracellular thermal response at single-cell level

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Nanotechnology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Accurate temperature monitoring at the single-cell level is crucial for understanding cellular processes.
• Existing methods often lack the sensitivity or spatial resolution required for intracellular measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a highly thermo-sensitive nanoprobe for precise single-cell temperature measurement.
• To investigate temperature fluctuations within marine lung epithelial (MLE)-12 cells upon stimulation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a nanoprobe using tungsten (W), polyurethane (PU), and platinum (Pt) based on a thermocouple metal junction.
• Integration of electro-element apparatuses for single-cell temperature measurement.
• Calibration of the temperature measurement probe (TMP) yielding a Seebeck coefficient of 6-8 μV °C⁻¹ and 0.1 °C precision.

Main Results:

• The TMP features a tip size <500 nm and an angle of 10-20°, with resistance between 500-1500 Ω.
• Monitoring intracellular temperature in MLE-12 cells revealed distinct temperature fluctuations upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cobalt chloride.
• Demonstrated the capability of the nanoprobe to detect subtle, stimulus-induced thermal changes at the single-cell level.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanoprobe enables highly sensitive and precise temperature measurements at the single-cell level.
• This technology offers a novel approach to study cellular thermal dynamics and responses to stimuli.
• Potential applications include advancing diagnostics and revealing complex cellular functions.