Development and Evaluation of Novel Implantable Nanosensors for Real- Time Monitoring of Individual Cells and Cellular Signaling

摘要

The goal of this project was to develop and demonstrate the potential of a versatile class of nano-biosensors capable of being implanted within individual living cells for the direct conversion of biochemical signaling events into electronic information. In order to monitor the various biochemical species responsible for intracellular signaling (e.g., proteins), with minimal stress to the cell during analysis, we are developing nanobead sensors between 200 and 500 nm in diameter that are capable of being non- invasively positioned at different locations within a living cell via optical tweezers. These sensors employ surface enhance Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and allow for the qualitative as well as quantitative monitoring of the expression of the specific proteins required for cellular response. Monitoring intracellular signaling species in this fashion allows for the detection of the earliest possible signals associated with a stimulation event, as well as allows for the differentiation of various events from one another at the earliest possible time.