Monitoring intracellular redox potential changes using SERS nanosensors

Craig Auchinvole, Patricia Richardson, Catherine McGuinnes, Venkatesh Mallikarjun, Kenneth Donaldson, Hamish McNab, Colin Campbell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Redox homeostasis and signaling are critically important in the regulation of cell function. There are significant challenges in quantitatively measuring intracellular redox potentials, and in this paper, we introduce a new approach. Our approach is based on the use of nanosensors which comprise molecules that sense the local redox potential, assembled on a gold nanoshell. Since the Raman spectrum of the sensor molecule changes depending on its oxidation state and since the nanoshell allows a huge enhancement of the Raman spectrum, intracellular potential can be calculated by a simple optical measurement. The nanosensors can be controllably delivered to the cytoplasm, without any toxic effects, allowing redox potential to be monitored in a reversible, non-invasive manner over a previously unattainable potential range encompassing both superphysiological and physiological oxidative stress.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)888-896
Number of pages9
JournalACS Nano
Volume6
Issue number1
Early online date13 Dec 2011
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • intracellular
  • redox
  • SERS
  • nanosensor

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