Journal article
Microstructured optical fibers and live cells: A water-soluble, photochromic zinc sensor
S Heng, CA McDevitt, DB Stubing, JJ Whittall, JG Thompson, TK Engler, AD Abell, TM Monro
Biomacromolecules | AMER CHEMICAL SOC | Published : 2013
DOI: 10.1021/bm401040v
Abstract
A new biologically compatible Zn(II) sensor was fabricated by embedding a Zn(II) sensing spiropyran within the surface of a liposome derived from Escherichia coli lipids (LSP2). Solution-based experiments with increasing Zn(II) concentrations show improved aqueous solubility and sensitivity compared to the isolated spiropyran molecule (SP2). LSP2 is capable of sensing Zn(II) efflux from dying cells with preliminary data indicating that sensing is localized near the surface membrane of HEK 293 cells. Finally, LSP2 is suitable for development into a nanoliter-scale dip-sensor for Zn(II) using microstructured optical fiber as the sensing platform to detect Zn(II) in the range of 100 ρM with min..
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Funding Acknowledgements
S. Heng acknowledges the support of an ARC Super Science Fellowship. C. A. McDevitt acknowledges the support of an ARC discovery grant (DP120103957) and a NHMRC project grant (1022240). T. M. Monro acknowledges the support of an ARC Federation Fellowship and A. D. Abell an ARC discovery grant. We acknowledge Roman Kostecki for fabricating the silica fiber used in the in-fiber experiments. This fiber was produced using the facilities within the Optofab node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, which provides nano and microfabrication facilities for Australia's researchers.