R-藻红蛋白的结构、功能及其应用

R-藻红蛋白是最重要类型的藻红蛋白,为许多藻类的前级捕光色素蛋白,在光的激发下,能发出桔红色荧光。现对R-藻红蛋白的三维结构与功能的关系、R-藻红蛋白离体的光学活性在肿瘤光动力学治疗(PDT)中作为光敏剂和荧光免疫检测等领域作为荧光探针分子的应用进行综述。     

上转换纳米颗粒在肿瘤诊断与治疗中的研究进展

上转换纳米颗粒具备光学/化学稳定性高、生物毒性低、荧光寿命长及激发光生物组织穿透深度较大等显著优点,近年来在生物传感、生物成像和疾病治疗等生物医学领域的研究和应用获得了广泛的关注。本文中,笔者就稀土元素掺杂的上转换纳米颗粒在肿瘤的诊断与治疗方面的研究现状及进展进行综合概述,主要对其在光动力疗法(PDT)、光热疗法(PPT)、化学联合疗法及多模态诊疗一体化等方面的研究展开分析和讨论,为上转换纳米颗粒的进一步研究开发及临床应用提供新的参考方向及思路。     

Au NPs/UCNPs复合纳米体系用于荧光成像引导下的肿瘤光热治疗的研究进展

近红外(NIR)光诱导的光热治疗(PTT)因其无创、非侵入、毒副作用低、可精准靶向治疗等特性,已成为肿瘤精准治疗的新型手段。凭借其独特的表面等离激元共振(SPR)特性及其高效的光热转换效率、生物毒性与良好的光稳定性,金纳米颗粒(Au NPs)已成为理想的光热治疗剂。而高质量成像技术是实现有效光热治疗的可靠有力的工具,尤其是多模态成像技术,比起单一成像方式具有更卓越的性能,为更全面、更精准的肿瘤成像提供了可能,显著提高了非侵入性医学治疗的潜力。NIR光激发的稀土上转换纳米颗粒(UCNPs),因其丰富的4f电子结构展现出磁性、荧光、X射线衰减和放射等多功能特性,使其作为造影剂在多模态成像领域展现了重要的应用前景。因此,构建NIR光诱导的Au NPs/UCNPs复合纳米体系,可用于多模态成像引导下的光热治疗,有望成为癌症诊疗的一种新策略。本文简单介绍了Au NPs、UCNPs的光学特性,重点综述了NIR光诱导的UCNPs-Au NPs(纳米壳、纳米棒、纳米团簇)复合纳米体系在癌症光热治疗领域的最新研究进展,并对其实现诊疗一体化的未来进行了展望。     

有机荧光探针辅助的近红外荧光成像技术在宫颈癌中的应用

荧光成像已被广泛应用于生物医学和临床诊断领域。近红外(Near-infrared,NIR,700–1 700nm)荧光成像在NIR波段对生物组织显影,与可见光波段(400–760 nm)的传统荧光成像相比,更有助于提高成像的信噪比和灵敏度。高质量的荧光成像需要借助良好的荧光探针,纳米技术的快速发展使具备良好荧光特性的有机染料不断涌现。与无机荧光探针相比,有机荧光探针具有安全性高、生物相容性好、光学稳定性强等优点。因此有机荧光探针辅助的NIR荧光成像可为研究者提供生物样品的结构和动态信息,是当前光学、化学、生物医学等多学科交叉研究领域的热点。文中结合近年来有机荧光探针在宫颈癌成像应用中的研究,概述了几种典型的有机荧光探针辅助NIR荧光成像在宫颈癌中的应用,如吲哚青绿、七甲川菁染料、罗丹明类荧光探针和聚合物荧光纳米颗粒,并对其发展前景和应用价值进行了展望。     

基于HMME的PDT体外灭活HL60实验研究

目的:探讨血卟啉单甲醚(HMME)介导的光动力疗法(HMME-PDT)对HL60细胞的作用及PDT前后HL60细胞表面超微结构的变化。方法:CCK-8法检测光敏剂浓度和光照剂量对HL60细胞抑制率的影响,荧光分光光度计监测PDT过程中光敏剂荧光强度随时间的变化,Fluo 3-AM荧光探针检测不同浓度HMME作用后HL60细胞内Ca2+变化,原子力显微镜观测PDT作用前后不同扫描范围HL60细胞表面的超微结构图。结果:细胞灭活率呈光敏剂浓度-光剂量依赖关系,当HMME为50μg/mL,光照剂量为24 J/cm2时,灭活效率达到70%;随着光照时间的增加,光敏剂的荧光强度不断减弱,下降速率也逐渐变慢;随HMME作用浓度增加,钙离子浓度显著升高;HMME-PDT作用后HL60细胞表面结构出现明显变化。结论:HMME-PDT能有效灭活HL60细胞,光敏剂浓度和光剂量是影响PDT疗效的重要因素,PDT过程中伴随有光漂白现象的发生,细胞凋亡和钙离子浓度增加呈正相关,PDT作用前后细胞出现明显萎缩,细胞膜粗糙度增加。     

光动力疗法对肿瘤的作用机制及其影响因素

光动力疗法（photodynamic therapy,PDT）被提出可用于肿瘤治疗已有25年历史。最近几年,PDT在临床上得到了较广泛的应用。一些光敏剂已被某些国家批准作为PDT药物。有关新型光敏剂的合成、体内体外试验、作用机制等方面的研究得到了迅速的发展,并取得了丰硕的成果。现从光动力反应基本原理出发,回顾了有关肿瘤PDT作用机制特别是细胞水平作用机制及其影响因素的最新研究成果。对肿瘤PDT作用机制进行全面深入的探讨,将有助于寻找改善和加强PDT功效的方法,使其在肿瘤治疗中发挥更大的优势。     

带有功能性多肽的光敏剂及其应用

光动力治疗( photodynamic therapy,PDT )是光敏剂在特定波长光源的激发下、在氧分子存在下产生细胞毒性物质的一种治疗方法,主要用于抗肿瘤治疗．目前临床应用的光敏剂对肿瘤细胞的靶向性比较有限,近来的一个热门研究方向是靶向性光敏剂．结合作者多年来在该方向的工作,综合近年来光敏剂研究的发展,比较全面地阐述了带有功能性多肽的靶向性光敏剂及其在光动力治疗中的应用．阐述多肽作为靶向基团的优势,总结了包括透膜多肽、血管靶向多肽、细胞受体靶向多肽等功能多肽与光敏剂偶合物的生物效应,说明了多肽能够实现光敏剂的靶向作用．     

光动力疗法治疗感染性疾病的动物模型

光动力疗法(photodynamic therapy,PDT)是利用特定波长的激发光照射生物靶标上的光敏剂,从而产生活性氧并有效杀伤多种耐药病原体的新型治疗方式,具有作用广、安全可控、不易耐受等优点。大量体外实验已证实了PDT疗效,但目前动物实验数据较少,且治疗参数不一,一定程度上影响了PDT在临床治疗中的广泛应用。本文综述近年来PDT用于体内抗感染治疗的动物模型构建、治疗方案设计等方面的研究进展,为未来PDT抗感染研究及临床应用提供参考。     

三套荧光显微成像系统在光敏剂亚细胞定位研究中的应用比较

目的：对三套荧光显微成像系统在国产新型光敏剂HMME亚细胞定位研究中的应用特点及适用范围进行了比较与评价。方法：分别应用LSCM、CCD、ICCD荧光显微成像系统,选择特异性细胞器荧光探针Rhodamine-123、DIOC6(3)标记细胞内线粒体和内质网。采用细胞器-细胞荧光强度比值法,对HMME进行单细胞内分布的定性与定量研究。结果：LSCM和CCD成像系统能采集到浓度达到160μg／ml时的HMME的荧光图像,获得荧光探针图像信息显示所标记的细胞内线粒体和内质网平均荧光强度比值(J1/J2值)都明显高于细胞内J1/J2值。而ICCD成像系统只需HMME浓度为5μg/ml,荧光图像特点都呈胞浆中荧光强度较高且分布不均,细胞核区荧光较弱的中空现象。ICCD系统对细胞器探针荧光图像在空间分辨上不理想。结论：LSCM与CCD成像系统限于其探测灵敏度,对于弱荧光性光敏剂,适用于其高孵育浓度条件下的亚细胞定位研究。二者获得的结果相一致：孵育24h,HMME在鼠肺内皮细胞线粒体和内质网有分布而几乎不进入细胞核。ICCD成像系统可不受孵育浓度条件的限制,实现光敏剂极微弱荧光的有效探测,但空间分辨率较低。     

光学成像技术在体研究肿瘤的光动力效应

光动力疗法 (PDT) 已发展成为一种较成熟的肿瘤治疗方法, PDT 诱导的血管损伤是杀死肿瘤的重要机制之一 . 为了在活体肿瘤模型上实时监测 PDT 导致的血管损伤效应,使用稳定高表达绿色荧光蛋白 (GFP) 的人涎腺腺样囊性癌细胞株 (ACC-M-GFP) ,建立了基于鸡胚尿囊膜 (CAM) 的肿瘤模型 . 应用荧光成像技术对肿瘤的生长位置、大小,以及治疗区域进行方便精确的定位;利用激光散斑成像技术,实时监测 CAM 上肿瘤周围血管的血液动力学参数 . 发现不同光动力剂量所导致的血管损伤有显著不同 . 结果表明,荧光标记的鸡胚尿囊膜肿瘤模型为研究 PDT 导致的血管损伤效应提供了良好的实验模型,激光散斑成像技术适用于实时监测 PDT 过程中血管结构、血流速度的变化,由此得出血液灌注率可用以评估 PDT 对肿瘤周围血管的损伤效应 .     

Recent advances in synthesis and surface modification of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Lanthanide (Ln)-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with appropriate surface modification can be used for a wide range of biomedical applications such as bio-detection, cancer therapy, bio-labeling, fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and drug delivery. The upconversion phenomenon exhibited by Ln-doped UCNPs renders them tremendous advantages in biological applications over other types of fluorescent materials (e.g., organic dyes, fluorescent proteins, gold nanoparticles, quantum dots, and luminescent transition metal complexes) for: (i) enhanced tissue penetration depths achieved by near-infrared (NIR) excitation; (ii) improved stability against photobleaching, photoblinking and photochemical degradation; (iii) non-photodamaging to DNA/RNA due to lower excitation light energy; (iv) lower cytotoxicity; and (v) higher detection sensitivity. Ln-doped UCNPs are therefore attracting increasing attentions in recent years. In this review, we present recent advances in the synthesis of Ln-doped UCNPs and their surface modification, as well as their emerging applications in biomedicine. The future prospects of Ln-doped UCNPs for biomedical applications are also discussed.     

A novel label-free upconversion fluorescence resonance energy transfer-nanosensor for ultrasensitive detection of protamine and heparin

A novel label-free fluorescence nanosensor was developed for ultrasensitive detection of protamine and heparin based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between NaYF₄:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The FRET system was formed by the electrostatic adsorption of AuNPs on UCNPs, and the fluorescence of UCNPs was significantly quenched. When protamine was added to the mixture of UCNPs–AuNPs, the AuNPs interacted with protamine and then desorbed from the surface of UCNPs and aggregated, resulting in the recovery of the fluorescence of UCNPs. On the addition of both protamine and heparin, the FRET system formed owing to the stronger interaction between heparin and protamine than that with AuNPs, leading to a marked fluorescence quenching of UCNPs. The concentrations of protamine and heparin were proportional to the changes of the fluorescence of UCNPs. The linear response range was obtained over the concentration ranges of 0.02 to 1.2 μg/ml and 0.002 to 2.0 μg/ml with low detection limits of 6.7 and 0.7 ng/ml for protamine and heparin, respectively. Simultaneous measurement of protamine and heparin in human serum can be achieved, suggesting that the nanosensor can be used in a complex biological sample matrix.     

Conjugated polymers for enhanced bioimaging

Background

Conjugated polymers (CPs) have been used for creating bioimaging tools or biosensors that provide a direct link between spectral signal and different biological processes. The detection schemes of these sensors are mainly employing the efficient light harvesting properties or the conformation sensitive optical properties of the CPs. Hence, the presence of biomolecules or biological events can be detected through fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the CP and an acceptor molecule, or through their impact on the conformation of the conjugated backbone, which is seen as an alteration of the optical properties of the CP.

Scope of the review

In this review, the utilization of CPs for sensitive detection of DNA and protein conformational changes will be presented. The main part will be focused on the specific binding of CPs to protein deposits associated with protein misfolding diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the discovery that tailor-made CPs can be used for in vivo optical imaging of protein aggregates will be discussed.

Major conclusions

The unique optical properties of CPs can be used as molecular tools for sensitive detection of genetic material and for characterization of the pathological hallmarks associated with protein misfolding disorders, such as AD.

General significance

CPs are novel molecular tools that can be used for sensitive bioimaging of biological processes and these tools offer the possibility to study biological events in a complementary fashion to conventional techniques.This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Nanotechnologies - Emerging Applications in Biomedicine.     

Quantum Dots in Cell Biology

Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that have broad excitation spectra, narrow emission spectra, tunable emission peaks, long fluorescence lifetimes, negligible photobleaching, and ability to be conjugated to proteins, making them excellent probes for bioimaging applications. Here the author reviews the advantages and disadvantages of using quantum dots in bioimaging applications, such as single-particle tracking and fluorescence resonance energy transfer, to study receptor-mediated transport.     

基于上转换纳米材料的免疫检测技术应用

免疫分析法具有简便、快速、准确等特点，广泛应用于医学、食品、环境等领域检测，将免疫分析方法与纳米材料相结合可以提高免疫分析的性能。与传统纳米材料相比，上转换纳米颗粒（upconversion nanoparticles，UCNPs）具有光稳定性好、发光寿命长和狭窄及可调整的发射带等优秀的光学性质，与免疫分析相结合可显著降低背景噪声，提高分析灵敏度。本文简要介绍了UCNPs的发光机制，对UCNPs的合成和表面修饰方法进行了总结，并详细论述荧光共振能量转移、内滤效应、磁分离技术、上转化连接免疫吸附技术和上转换免疫层析技术五种基于UCNPs的免疫检测技术，最后对该技术所面临的挑战和前景进行总结和展望，以期为UCNPs免疫检测技术的发展提供理论指导。     

FRET microscopy in the living cell: different approaches, strengths and weaknesses

New imaging methodologies in quantitative fluorescence microscopy, such as F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET), have been developed in the last few years and are beginning to be extensively applied to biological problems. FRET is employed for the detection and quantification of protein interactions, and of biochemical activities. Herein, we review the different methods to measure FRET in microscopy, and more importantly, their strengths and weaknesses. In our opinion, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is advantageous for detecting inter-molecular interactions quantitatively, the intensity ratio approach representing a valid and straightforward option for detecting intra-molecular FRET. Promising approaches in single molecule techniques and data analysis for quantitative and fast spatio-temporal protein-protein interaction studies open new avenues for FRET in biological research.     

有机荧光团及荧光标记细胞的阴极荧光成像研究

目的 阴极荧光（CL）成像是一种以电子束为激发源的高分辨荧光成像技术,但生物材料对电子束的敏感性限制了CL技术在生命科学中的广泛应用。为了研究和发展CL技术在生物样品中的应用,本文旨在通过探究电子辐照引起碳基材料的结构损伤、有机基团的降解及荧光猝灭等问题,深入理解电子源对有机荧光团的激发特性。方法 本研究应用扫描电镜（SEM）和阴极荧光谱仪系统（SEM-CL）,研究电子源对有机荧光团及荧光探针标记细胞的激发特性,观测了有机物的CL信号的发射特性、强度衰减、成像方式及特点。结果 实验结果显示,在低能量（2.5～5 keV）和低束流（～10 pA）电子辐照下,有机荧光微珠发射出较强的荧光,CL像分辨率达到～30 nm。荧光微珠经过12 min辐照,信号强度衰减了25%,CL像仍保持了可接受的发光强度和足够的信噪比。此外,还获得了从细胞表面到内部一定深度内,荧光标记的亚细胞结构信息。结论 在SEM-CL系统中,可以同时获得由电子束激发产生的电子像和CL像,实现阴极荧光与电子显微镜关联（CCLEM）成像。本实验的研究结果为CCLEM技术应用于生物结构研究提供了数据及技术支持。     

Finite element modelling of contracting skeletal muscle

To describe the mechanical behaviour of biological tissues and transport processes in biological tissues, conservation laws such as conservation of mass, momentum and energy play a central role. Mathematically these are cast into the form of partial differential equations. Because of nonlinear material behaviour, inhomogeneous properties and usually a complex geometry, it is impossible to find closed-form analytical solutions for these sets of equations. The objective of the finite element method is to find approximate solutions for these problems. The concepts of the finite element method are explained on a finite element continuum model of skeletal muscle. In this case, the momentum equations have to be solved with an extra constraint, because the material behaves as nearly incompressible. The material behaviour consists of a highly nonlinear passive part and an active part. The latter is described with a two-state Huxley model. This means that an extra nonlinear partial differential equation has to be solved. The problems and solutions involved with this procedure are explained. The model is used to describe the mechanical behaviour of a tibialis anterior of a rat. The results have been compared with experimentally determined strains at the surface of the muscle. Qualitatively there is good agreement between measured and calculated strains, but the measured strains were higher.     

Comprehensive application of an mtDsRed2-Tg mouse strain for mitochondrial imaging

Mitochondria are essential for many cellular functions such as oxidative phosphorylation and calcium homeostasis; consequently, mitochondrial dysfunction could cause many diseases, including neurological disorders. Recently, mitochondrial dynamics, such as fusion, fission, and transportation, have been visualized in living cells by using time-lapse imaging systems. The changes in mitochondrial morphology could be an indicator for estimating the activity of mitochondrial biological function. Here, we report a transgenic mouse strain, mtDsRed2-Tg, which expresses a red fluorescent protein, DsRed2, exclusively in mitochondria. Mitochondrial morphology could be clearly observed in various tissues of this strain under confocal microscope. Recently, many transgenic mouse strains in which enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged proteins of interest are expressed have been established for physiological analysis in vivo. After mating these strains with mtDsRed2-Tg mice, red-colored mitochondria and green-colored proteins were detected simultaneously using fluorescent imaging systems, and the interactions between mitochondria and those proteins could be morphologically analyzed in cells and tissues of the F₁ hybrids. Thus, mtDsRed2-Tg mice can be a powerful tool for bioimaging studies on mitochondrial functions.