Fiber-Optic Quantum Dots Sensor for Dynamic and Quantitative Thermal Monitoring of Spheroids toward Single-Cellular...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Accurate cellular temperature monitoring is vital for understanding biological processes.
• Existing sensors lack the stability and resolution needed for real-time cellular analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel fiber-optic quantum dots sensor (FOQDS) for precise, real-time cellular thermal dynamics monitoring.
• To overcome limitations of current sensors in stability and spatiotemporal resolution.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a tapered fiber optic tip functionalized with CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots.
• Encapsulation of the quantum dots with a dense Al2O3 layer for enhanced stability.
• Characterization of the sensor's thermal response, sensitivity, and temporal resolution.

Main Results:

• The FOQDS demonstrated a linear thermal response with high sensitivity (145 pm/°C) and a temporal resolution of <10 μs.
• The sensor achieved potential for single-cellular-scale spatial precision.
• Quantitative, real-time monitoring of thermal fluctuations in glioblastoma spheroids was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The FOQDS is a stable, minimally invasive platform for monitoring cellular thermogenesis.
• This technology enables studies in physiologically relevant microenvironments.
• The sensor holds promise for fundamental biology research and precision therapeutics.