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A Label-free Technique for the Spatio-temporal Imaging of Single Cell Secretions
Published on: November 23, 2015
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A label-free technique to quantify and visualize gold nanoparticle accumulation at the single-cell level
Chuan Wang1, Hao-Ran Zhou1, Ya-Tong Zhao1
1State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210023, China.
Chemosphere
|May 13, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a novel label-free hyperspectral imaging technique to visualize and quantify gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within single cells. This method addresses the lack of tools for studying AuNP accumulation heterogeneity and potential health risks.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have diverse applications but their health risks are not fully understood.
- Cell-to-cell variability in AuNP accumulation complicates risk assessment.
- Current methods lack the ability to simultaneously quantify and visualize intracellular AuNPs at the single-cell level.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel label-free technique for visualizing and quantifying intracellular AuNP accumulation at the single-cell level.
- To optimize hyperspectral imaging parameters for accurate AuNP identification and quantification.
- To validate the developed method against established techniques for reliable risk assessment.
Main Methods:
- Developed a label-free technique combining hyperspectral imaging with enhanced darkfield microscopy (HSI-DFM).
- Created and optimized hyperspectral libraries for identifying extra- and intracellular AuNPs.
- Established a filtration method to merge spectral libraries across different cell lines.
- Validated HSI-DFM results against inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Main Results:
- HSI-DFM successfully visualized and quantified intracellular AuNP accumulation at the single-cell level.
- Optimized spectral libraries improved identification accuracy and reduced analysis time.
- Validated method allowed calculation of intracellular AuNP concentration and monitoring of accumulation kinetics.
- The technique demonstrated good correlation with ICP-MS measurements.
Conclusions:
- The novel label-free HSI-DFM technique enables single-cell quantification and visualization of intracellular AuNPs.
- This method provides a valuable tool for assessing AuNP heterogeneity and potential health risks.
- The technique is adaptable for various AuNPs and other nanoparticles detectable by HSI-DFM.
