Intracellular O_2 Measurements: Fluorescence Microscopy with Nanosensors

摘要

The combination of a soluble cell-penetrating oxygen sensor and an optoelectronic accessory unit for standard fluorescence microscopes allows for a simple and robust determination of the intracellular oxygen content in cell samples. An advantage of the system is its ability to overcome interfering background signals. The system evaluates the phosphorescence decay time even from weak and interfered signals and relates them to the oxygen concentration. For demonstration, cells were treated with carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP) and antimycin A and the corresponding changes in the intracellular oxygen content were recorded. The supply of molecular oxygen (O_2) is crucial for cell growth and differentiation [1]. Abnormal O_2 content induces and indicates dysfunctions. Energy-consuming biochemical processes can be monitored by measuring changes of the O_2 content [2].