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Intracellular detection of singlet oxygen using fluorescent nanosensors
Peuli Nath1, Sameer Sayel Hamadna1, Leshern Karamchand2
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA. Aniruddha.ray@utoledo.edu.
The Analyst
|May 13, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed novel biocompatible polymeric nanosensors for detecting singlet oxygen, a key molecule in plasma and photodynamic therapies. These nanosensors track singlet oxygen within cancer cells, aiding therapeutic monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Photochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Singlet oxygen detection is crucial for therapeutic applications like photodynamic and plasma therapies.
- Existing methods for singlet oxygen detection face limitations in cellular environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel intracellular nanosensor for singlet oxygen detection.
- To monitor singlet oxygen generation within cancer cells during cold plasma therapy.
Main Methods:
- Encapsulation of Singlet Oxygen Sensor Green (SOSG) dye within biocompatible polymeric nanosensors.
- Experimental quantification of nanosensor efficiency using a plasma source.
- Validation of results using Monte Carlo simulations.
- Monitoring intracellular singlet oxygen in cancer cells using a Helium plasma jet.
Main Results:
- Nanosensors successfully detected singlet oxygen generated by a plasma source.
- Fluorescence intensity changes of nanosensors correlated with singlet oxygen levels.
- Intracellular singlet oxygen was monitored within endosomes and lysosomes of cancer cells during cold plasma therapy.
Conclusions:
- Biocompatible polymeric nanosensors provide a reliable method for intracellular singlet oxygen detection.
- These nanosensors are valuable tools for monitoring singlet oxygen in real-time during plasma-based cancer therapies.
- The developed nanosensors show promise for advancing therapeutic applications requiring singlet oxygen monitoring.
