A minimal view of single-particle imaging with X-ray lasers

The ability to serially interrogate single biomolecules with femtosecond X-ray pulses from free-electron lasers has ushered in the possibility of determining the three-dimensional structure of biomolecules without crystallization. However, the complexity of imaging a sample''s structure from very many of its noisy and incomplete diffraction data can be daunting. In this review, we introduce a simple analogue of this imaging workflow, use it to describe a structure reconstruction algorithm based on the expectation maximization principle, and consider the effects of extraneous noise. Such a minimal model can aid experiment and algorithm design in future studies.     

Bioimaging of multiple elements by high‐resolution LA‐ICP‐MS reveals altered distribution of mineral elements in the nodes of rice mutants

Inter‐vascular transfer in rice (Oryza sativa) nodes is required for delivering mineral elements to developing tissues, which is mediated by various transporters in the nodes. However, the effect of these transporters on distribution of mineral elements in the nodes at a cellular level is still unknown. Here, we established a protocol for bioimaging of multiple elements at a cellular level in rice node by laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS), and compared the mineral distribution profile between wild‐type (WT) rice and mutants. Both relative comparison of mineral distribution normalized by endogenous ¹³C and quantitative analysis using spiked standards combined with soft ablation gave valid results. Overall, macro‐nutrients such as K and Mg were accumulated more in the phloem region, while micro‐nutrients such as Fe and Zn were highly accumulated at the inter‐vascular tissues of the node. In mutants of nodal Zn transporter OsHMA2, Zn localization pattern in the node tissues did not differ from that of WT; however, Zn accumulation in the inter‐vascular tissues was lower in uppermost node I but higher in the third upper node III compared with the WT. In contrast, Si deposition in the mutants of three nodal Si transporters Lsi2, Lsi3 and Lsi6 showed different patterns, which are consistent with the localization of these transporters. This improved LA‐ICP‐MS analysis combined with functional characterization of transporters will provide further insight into mineral element distribution mechanisms in rice and other plant species.     

Self‐assembling amyloid‐like peptides as exogenous second harmonic probes for bioimaging applications

Amyloid‐like peptides are an ideal model for the mechanistic study of amyloidosis, which may lead to many human diseases, such as Alzheimer disease. This study reports a strong second harmonic generation (SHG) effect of amyloid‐like peptides, having a signal equivalent to or even higher than those of endogenous collagen fibers. Several amyloid‐like peptides (both synthetic and natural) were examined under SHG microscopy and shown they are SHG‐active. These peptides can also be observed inside cells (in vitro). This interesting property can make these amyloid‐like peptides second harmonic probes for bioimaging applications. Furthermore, SHG microscopy can provide a simple and label‐free approach to detect amyloidosis. Lattice corneal dystrophy was chosen as a model disease of amyloidosis. Morphological difference between normal and diseased human corneal biopsy samples can be easily recognized, proving that SHG can be a useful tool for disease diagnosis.     

Carbon dots as a luminescence sensor for ultrasensitive detection of phosphate and their bioimaging properties

Highly blue fluorescence carbon dots were synthesized by one‐step hydrothermal treatment of potatoes. The as‐obtained C‐dots have been applied to bioimaging of HeLa cells, which shows their excellent biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity. The results reveal that C‐dots are promising for real cell imaging applications. In addition, the carbon dots can be utilized as a probe for sensing phosphate. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

磷光过渡金属配合物用于生物成像及癌症治疗的研究进展

顺铂及其衍生物在抗肿瘤方面取得了很大成功,但是传统的铂类抗癌药物的毒副作用和耐药性限制了这类化合物在临床上的进 一步开发。近年来,非铂类化合物,如具有 d6 电子结构的磷光过渡金属钌 ( II )、铱 ( III ) 和铼 ( I ) 配合物,由于其丰富的光物理和 光化学性质、氧化还原性质、多样的几何构型和水溶性好等优势吸引了越来越多的关注。综述上述 3 种金属配合物在生物成像及抗肿 瘤方面的研究进展。     

Aptamer‐mediated synthesis of multifunctional nano‐hydroxyapatite for active tumour bioimaging and treatment

ObjectivesThe nano‐hydroxyapatite (nHAp) is widely used to develop imaging probes and drug carriers due to its excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility. However, traditional methods usually need cumbersome and stringent conditions such as high temperature and post‐modification to prepare the functionalized nHAp, which do not benefit the particles to enter cells due to the increased particle size. Herein, a biomimetic synthesis strategy was explored to achieve the AS1411‐targeted tumour dual‐model bioimaging using DNA aptamer AS1411 as a template. Then, the imaging properties and the biocompatibility of the synthesized AS‐nFAp:Gd/Tb were further investigated.Materials and methodsThe AS‐nFAp:Gd/Tb was prepared under mild conditions through a one‐pot procedure with AS1411 as a template. Besides, the anticancer drug DOX was loaded to AS‐nFAp:Gd/Tb so as to achieve the establishment of a multifunctional nano‐probe that integrated the tumour diagnosis and treatment. The AS‐nFAp:Gd/Tb was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy disperse X‐ray Spectroscopy (EDS) mapping, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectrum, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), fourier‐transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, capillary electrophoresis analyses, zeta potential and particle sizes. The in vitro magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence imaging were performed on an MRI system and a confocal laser scanning microscope, respectively. The potential of the prepared multifunctional nHAp for a targeted tumour therapy was investigated by a CCK‐8 kit. And the animal experiments were conducted on the basis of the guidelines approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Sichuan University, China.ResultsIn the presence of AS1411, the as‐prepared AS‐nFAp:Gd/Tb presented a needle‐like morphology with good monodispersity and improved imaging performance. Furthermore, due to the specific binding between AS1411 and nucleolin up‐expressed in cancer cells, the AS‐nFAp:Gd/Tb possessed excellent AS1411‐targeted fluorescence and MRI imaging properties. Moreover, after loading chemotherapy drug DOX, in vitro and in vivo studies showed that DOX@AS‐nFAp:Gd/Tb could effectively deliver DOX to tumour tissues and exert a highly effective tumour inhibition without systemic toxicity compared with pure DOX.ConclusionsThe results indicated that the prepared multifunctional nHAp synthesized by a novel biomimetic strategy had outstanding capabilities of recognition and treatment for the tumour and had good biocompatibility; hence, it might have a potential clinical application in the future.     

Recent chemo‐/biosensor and bioimaging studies based on indole‐decorated BODIPYs

BODIPY is an important fluorophores due to its enhanced photophysical and chemical properties including outstanding thermal/photochemical stability, intense absorption/emission profiles, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and small Stokes' shifts. In addition to BODIPY, indole and its derivatives have recently gained attention because of their structural properties and particularly biological importance, therefore these molecules have been widely used in sensing and biosensing applications. Here, we focus on recent studies that reported the incorporation of indole‐based BODIPY molecules as reporter molecules in sensing systems. We highlight the rationale for developing such systems and evaluate detection limits of the developed sensing platforms. Furthermore, we also review the application of indole‐based BODIPY molecules in bioimaging studies. This article includes the evaluation of indole‐based BODIPYs from synthesis to characterization and a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of developed reporter systems, making it instructive for researchers in various disciplines for the design and development of similar systems.     

A rhodamine‐triazole fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu2+ detection and its application in bioimaging

A rhodamine‐based fluorescent chemodosimeter rhodamine hydrazide‐triazole (RHT) tethered with a triazole moiety was developed for Cu²⁺ detection. In aqueous medium, the RHT probe exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity toward Cu²⁺ among other metal ions. The addition of Cu²⁺ triggered a fluorescence emission of RHT by 384‐fold (Φ = 0.33) based on a ring‐opening process and a subsequent hydrolysis reaction. Moreover, RHT also showed a selective colorimetric response toward Cu²⁺ from colorless solution to pink, readily observed with the naked eye. The limit of detection of RHT for Cu²⁺ was calculated to be 1 nM (0.06 ppb). RHT was successfully demonstrated to detect Cu²⁺ in Chang liver cells by confocal fluorescence microscopy.     

Retracted: Single layer molybdenum disulfide as an optical nanoprobe for 2 photon luminescence and second harmonic generation cell imaging

More recently, tremendous progress has been achieved in the development of two‐dimensional semiconductor materials applied in catalyst, energy application, sensor device and bioengineering since the birth of graphene isolated from graphite. Layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) as an indirect gap semiconductor can efficiently emit photoluminescence (PL) excited by visible light, which shows a great potential in adaptive biological imaging. However, 1 photon PL of MoS₂ for cell imaging purposes suffers from strong autofluorescence and ion‐induced PL quenching. Herein, we report single layer small chitosan decorated MoS₂ nanosheets as a nonbleaching, nonblinking optical nanoprobe under near infrared femtosecond laser excitation and their applications for strong 2 photon luminescence (TPL) and strong second harmonic generation (SHG) bioimaging. Furthermore, the TPL can resist the ion‐induced quenching on the cellular membrane. The proposed TPL and SHG of single‐layer MoS₂ show great potential for real‐time, deep, multiphoton and three‐dimensional bioimaging under low‐power laser excitation.      

上转换纳米材料在生物应用中的研究进展

上转换发光纳米材料(UCNPs)具有荧光寿命长、潜在生物毒性低、穿透深度大、对生物组织损伤小且几乎没有背景光等显著优点,近年来,在光动力治疗(PDT)、生物成像及生物检测等领域已经得到广泛应用.但在应用的过程中存在一些缺陷,如在PDT中UCNPs与光敏剂之间能量转移效率较低、正常组织过热;在生物成像中,荧光强度较弱、光敏剂和激活剂有能量回流、成像模式单一等问题.科研人员针对上述问题研究出了很多解决的方法,如缩短UCNPs与目标物之间的距离、改变照射激光的强度、改变UCNPs的结构、将UCNPs作为新型多功能平台整合成像与治疗于一体等,使部分问题得到了很好的解决.本文重点综述了UCNPs应用在PDT和生物成像中所出现的问题及解决方法,并对UCNPs在生物医学领域的应用发展趋势进行展望.