Fiber-Optic-Based Micro-Probe Using Hexagonal 1-in-6 Fiber Configuration for Intracellular Single-Cell pH Measurement

Abstract

Single-cell research is essential for understanding cell heterogeneity, cell differentiation, and carcinogenesis, among other important cellular processes. New techniques for intracellular pH monitoring are urgently needed to gain new insights into single-cell responses to external stimuli. In this study, fiber-optic reflection-based pH micro (µ)-probes (tip diameter: 500-3000 nm) were designed and fabricated using a novel hexagonal 1-in-6 fiber configuration. An organic-modified silicate (OrMoSils) sol-gel doped with a pH-sensitive dye, 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF), were coated onto the probe sensing tip for pH detection. These probes enabled neutral pH monitoring and quasi-real-time data acquisition (response time: 20 ± 5 s). The fluorescence signals of the newly developed probes were found to correlate linearly with pH (R2 = 0.9869 when coupling laser power was at 8.2 mW) within a biologically relevant pH range (6.18-7.80). The pH resolution was 0.038 pH unit. The miniaturized probes were validated in single human lung cancer A549 cells to demonstrate applicability in single-cell experiments. In summary, novel pH µ-probes with excellent resolution and response times within a biologically relevant pH range were developed, and they can be used for measuring pH changes in single cells.

Department(s)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Second Department

Chemistry

Keywords and Phrases

Cells; Cytology; Data acquisition; Fiber optics; Fibers; Fluorescence; Mobile security; pH; pH sensors; Potentiometric sensors; Probes; Silicates; Sol-gels; Carboxyfluorescein; Cell differentiation; Cellular process; External stimulus; Fiber configuration; Fluorescence signals; Intracellular pH; Real time data acquisition; pH effects; 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein; fluorescein derivative; fluorescent dye; organosilicon derivative; chemistry; devices; electrode; pH; procedures; single cell analysis; Electrodes; Fiber Optic Technology; Fluoresceins; Fluorescent Dyes; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Organosilicon Compounds

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0003-2700

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2015 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jul 2015

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS