Article
Optics
Prakash Joshi, Partha Pratim Mondal
Summary: Molecular assembly in cellular environments is crucial for understanding biological mechanisms. Biophysical parameters directly linked to cellular states require a multimodel approach for accurate estimation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Cecilia Zaza, German Chiarelli, Ludovit P. Zweifel, Mauricio Pilo-Pais, Evangelos Sisamakis, Fabio Barachati, Fernando D. Stefani, Guillermo P. Acuna
Summary: Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-based approaches are unique tools for sensing the immediate surroundings and interactions of (bio)molecules. FRET imaging and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) enable the visualization of the spatial distribution of molecular interactions and functional states. However, conventional FLIM and FRET imaging provide average information over an ensemble of molecules within a diffraction-limited volume, which limits the spatial information, accuracy, and dynamic range of the observed signals. Here, an approach to obtain super-resolved FRET imaging based on single-molecule localization microscopy using an early prototype of a commercial time-resolved confocal microscope is demonstrated. DNA Points Accumulation for Imaging in Nanoscale Topography with fluorogenic probes provides a suitable combination of background reduction and binding kinetics compatible with the scanning speed of usual confocal microscopes. A single laser is used to excite the donor, a broad detection band is employed to retrieve both donor and acceptor emission, and FRET events are detected from lifetime information.
Article
Biology
Jigmi Basumatary, Neptune Baro, Prakash Joshi, Partha Pratim Mondal
Summary: Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) is a powerful technique that improves spatial resolution beyond the diffraction limit and allows for the analysis of biological features at the nanoscale. This study introduces a single molecule-based scanning SMLM (scanSMLM) system that enables rapid volume imaging. By rapidly changing the aperture of an electrically-tunable lens, the system achieves selective imaging of the axial object plane, allowing for volume scanning. The technique is employed to visualize the architecture of actin-filaments, the distribution of Meos-Tom20 molecules on the mitochondrial membrane, and the clustering of Hemagglutinin (HA) protein single molecules for studying Influenza-A disease progression. The system enables 3D visualization of HA distribution, providing unprecedented insights into the disease progression at the single-molecule level.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zachary Hallenbeck, Esther A. Wertz
Summary: This work introduces a new technique that combines super-resolution microscopy with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy to study the enhancement of single-molecule decay rate by plasmonic nanoparticles. The technique provides high spatial resolution and temporal resolution, allowing for a better understanding of the mechanisms of plasmon-enhanced emission.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Baolei Liu, Jiayan Liao, Yiliao Song, Chaohao Chen, Lei Ding, Jie Lu, Jiajia Zhou, Fan Wang
Summary: The study introduces a method for multiplexed super-resolution imaging using lifetime-engineered upconversion nanoparticles, achieving a lateral resolution of 185 nm. By utilizing a deep learning algorithm, more accurate decoding compared to a numeric algorithm is achieved, with decoding accuracies above 93% for a three-channel super-resolution imaging.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charles Bond, Adriana N. Santiago-Ruiz, Qing Tang, Melike Lakadamyali
Summary: Since its initial demonstration in 2000, there have been significant technological advancements in far-field super-resolution light microscopy. These developments have allowed for unprecedented visualization of the inner workings of cells. This review discusses the technical details of common implementations of super-resolution microscopy and highlights recent promising advances in the field.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Florian Schueder, Juanita Lara-Gutierrez, Daniel Haas, Kai Sandvold Beckwith, Peng Yin, Jan Ellenberg, Ralf Jungmann
Summary: The researchers introduced a new super-resolution microscopy technique called pPAINT, which can sensitively detect the spatial proximity of biomolecules and has broad applications in cellular research.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Optics
Nisan Siegel, Gary Brooker
Summary: This new super-resolution microscopy technique utilizes a simple and versatile approach to achieve better resolution than other complex methods after a single image capture. It can work with any objective power and numerical aperture, is easy to operate and maintain, and can create super-resolved images using any type or wavelength of light.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alan M. Szalai, Cecilia Zaza, Fernando D. Stefani
Summary: The combination of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy and FRET has provided unique tools for studying biological systems and nanomaterials. The integration of these techniques has advanced super-resolution imaging and allowed for visualization of molecular interaction patterns with higher spatial resolution. Future perspectives include possible integration with next generation super-resolution techniques for true molecular-scale spatial resolution.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stefan Krause, Evelyn Ploetz, Johann Bohlen, Patrick Schuler, Renukka Yaadav, Florian Selbach, Florian Steiner, Izabela Kaminska, Philip Tinnefeld
Summary: Researchers screened 10 preparation methods for graphene-on-glass and presented an optimized protocol for single-molecule and super-resolution imaging; they utilized DNA origami technology to detect graphene quality, showing discrepancies between conventional techniques such as light microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy for graphene characterization.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marius Glogger, Christoph Spahn, Joerg Enderlein, Mike Heilemann
Summary: SOFI is a super-resolution microscopy technique that analyzes intensity fluctuations to overcome the diffraction limit, and can circumvent fluorophore photobleaching by using reversible and transient fluorophore labels that bind to a target.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Mark Tingey, Steven J. Schnell, Wenlan Yu, Jason Saredy, Samuel Junod, Dhrumil Patel, Abdullah A. Alkurdi, Weidong Yang
Summary: The transient nature of RNA and temporal constraints within cells make it difficult to image RNA, especially endogenous RNA in transfected cells. However, recent advances have provided researchers with the tools to image endogenous RNA at the cellular and single-molecule level.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Izabela Kaminska, Johann Bohlen, Renukka Yaadav, Patrick Schueler, Mario Raab, Tim Schroeder, Jonas Zaehringer, Karolina Zielonka, Stefan Krause, Philip Tinnefeld
Summary: Graphene is a game-changing material with unique mechanical and electrical properties. This study highlights its application as a transparent yet fluorescence-quenching energy transfer acceptor, showcasing its versatility in various fields such as molecular height determination, DNA structure visualization, and orientation determination of energy transfer pairs.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Soochul Shin, Sun Han, Juyoung Kim, Yumi Shin, Ji-Joon Song, Sungchul Hohng
Summary: SIMUL is a multiplexed ctDNA detection technique that can sensitively and specifically detect multiple single-nucleotide mutations in early cancer stages. It accurately measures mutant fractions and holds immense potential for clinical applications.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matthew D. Newton, Simon D. Fairbanks, Jim A. Thomas, David S. Rueda
Summary: The study demonstrates that the dinuclear ruthenium(II) complex can thread and lock into force-extended DNA in a two-step mechanism, with one stereoisomer showing the highest binding affinity reported. Interestingly, the complex behaves differently on torsionally constrained DNA and negatively supercoiled DNA, making it a potential long-lived luminescent label for biological applications.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joaquim Torra, Celine Lafaye, Luca Signor, Sylvain Aumonier, Cristina Flors, Xiaokun Shu, Santi Nonell, Guillaume Gotthard, Antoine Royant
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Patricia Bondia, Joaquim Torra, Caterina M. Tone, Taka Sawazaki, Adrin del Valle, Begona Sot, Santi Nonell, Motomu Kanai, Youhei Sohma, Cristina Flors
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2020)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Adrian del Valle, Joaquim Torra, Patricia Bondia, Caterina M. Tone, Patricia Pedraz, Virginia Vadillo-Rodriguez, Cristina Flors
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Roger Bresoli-Obach, Walter A. Massad, Abasi Abudulimu, Larry Lueer, Cristina Flors, Javier G. Luis, Laura I. Rosquete, Teresa A. Grillo, Ommid Anamimoghadam, Gotz Bucher, Santi Nonell
Summary: Researchers have developed aryl-substituted phenalenones inspired by the irreversible cyclization of 9-phenylphenalenone plant metabolites to yield highly-colored naphthoxanthenes. The lifetime of the naphthoxanthene photoisomer ranges from tens of picoseconds to tens of milliseconds depending on the electronic properties of the 9-aryl group.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joaquim Torra, Felipe Viela, Diego Megias, Begona Sot, Cristina Flors
Summary: CRANAD-2, a fluorogenic curcumin derivative, shows good performance in both stimulated emission depletion (STED) and single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) for near-infrared detection and imaging of amyloid aggregates with a resolution range of 45-55 nm. Its versatility and performance make it a powerful tool for near-infrared nanoscopic imaging of amyloids in vitro and in vivo.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ingrid Ortega, Joaquim Torra, Cristina Flors
Summary: This study investigates the effect of photodynamic treatment on the oscillations of MinD, a cell division regulator in Escherichia coli, using real-time single-cell fluorescence imaging. The results show that the concentration of methylene blue, a photosensitizer, disrupts the oscillation pattern of MinD. In contrast to antibiotics, photodynamic treatment abruptly interrupts the oscillation, reflecting different physiological mechanisms leading to bacterial death.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Joaquim Torra, Taka Sawazaki, Patricia Bondia, Santi Nonell, Motomu Kanai, Youhei Sohma, Cristina Flors
Summary: The study discusses the use of iodinated boron dipyrromethene photocatalysts as theranostic compounds against pathogenic bacterial biofilms. These compounds selectively stain and weaken the mechanical barrier of the biofilm, allowing conventional antimicrobial agents to regain their activity.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ingrid V. Ortega, Felipe Viela, Cristina Flors
Summary: Min oscillations are an intriguing mechanism used by Escherichia coli to monitor the effect of sublethal environmental challenges on bacterial physiology. This review discusses the use of Min oscillations as a reporting tool to monitor the effect of extracellular cationic compounds and explores its potential to visualize stress responses and understand bacterial cell death. The physiological meaning of changes in Min oscillation period and the benefits and limitations of using oscillations as a reporter in fluorescence microscopy are also discussed.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Felipe Viela, Ingrid V. Ortega, Jaime J. Hernandez, Isabel Rodriguez, Sara Moreno-Da Silva, Alejandro Lopez-Moreno, Emilio M. Perez, Cristina Flors
Summary: Mechanobactericidal nanomaterials are promising antimicrobial strategies that rely on mechanical interactions with bacteria and overcome antibiotic resistance. However, the detailed mechanisms behind the killing effects are not well understood. This study investigates the real-time response of bacteria to weak mechanical interactions with nanostructured topographies and nanodarts, shedding light on the complex mechanisms of mechanically induced bacterial death.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Patricia Bondia, Cristina Flors, Joaquim Torra
Summary: Thioflavin T (ThT), commonly used as a fluorescent probe for amyloid detection, has been discovered to exhibit photodynamic activity against bacterial biofilms. It disrupts the complex architecture of biofilm matrix and efficiently inactivates bacterial cells, while also synergistically enhancing the activity of conventional antimicrobials.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joaquim Torra, Patricia Bondia, Sylvia Gutierrez-Erlandsson, Begona Sot, Cristina Flors
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
A. Del Valle, P. Bondia, C. M. Tone, V. Vadillo, C. Flors
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2019)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
P. Bondia, C. M. Tone, J. Torra, A. Del Valle, B. Sot, Y. Sohma, M. Kanai, C. Flors
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2019)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
J. Torra, P. Bondia, B. Sot, C. Flors
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Soranyel Gonzalez-Carrero, Lorena Bareno, Elke Debroye, Cristina Martin, Patricia Bondia, Cristina Flors, Raquel E. Galian, Johan Hofkens, Julia Perez-Prieto
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2019)