Functionalized Buckyballs for Visualizing Microbial Species in Different States and Environments

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Nanotechnology
• Biophysics

Background:

• In situ visualization of microbial density is crucial for understanding microbial ecosystems.
• Existing methods face challenges in accurately quantifying microbial populations without interference from substrates or cell structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel molecular probe for in situ visualization of microbial density.
• To validate the probe's ability to internalize within microorganisms without non-specific binding.
• To assess the probe's capability in differentiating between live and dead microbial cells.

Main Methods:

• Utilized functionalized buckyballs (C60-pyrrolidine tris acid) as molecular probes.
• Employed multi-scale imaging techniques including fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, and autoradiography.
• Investigated the binding characteristics and cellular uptake of the probes in various substrates.

Main Results:

• Functionalized buckyballs demonstrated internalization within microorganisms, avoiding adherence to cell walls/membranes and substrate binding.
• Multi-scale imaging confirmed association with microorganisms, positive cellular uptake, and minimal non-specific binding.
• Cysteine-functionalized buckyballs successfully differentiated between live and dead microbial cells.

Conclusions:

• Functionalized buckyballs offer a versatile platform for in situ microbial density visualization.
• The probes exhibit high specificity for microorganisms, enabling accurate quantification.
• The ability to distinguish live from dead cells enhances their utility in microbial studies.