Modulation of Local Cellular Activities using a Photothermal Dye-Based Subcellular-Sized Heat Spot
- Journal:
- ACS Nano
- Published:
- Affiliations:
- 6
- Authors:
- 8
Research Highlight
Heating subcellular spots in cells
© vshivkova/iStock/Getty Images
A tiny polymer speck can both heat just the right spot in cells when illuminated by infrared light and simultaneously read the temperature.
Biologists would like to heat small spots in cells to see what effect such localized heating has on activities in cells. They would also like to read out the temperature in real time. But while nanoheater–thermometer systems have been developed, they have various limitations.
Now, a team led by researchers from Kanazawa University in Japan has developed a polymeric nanoparticle that combines light-induced heating and simultaneous temperature read out. The nanoparticle consists of a temperature-sensitive fluorescent dye and a photothermal dye in a polymer matrix.
The team demonstrate the nanoparticle’s potential by using it to kill human cancer cells through raising the nanoparticle’s temperature by about 11 degrees Celsius. They also caused muscle cells to contract on heating.
References
- ACS Nano 16, 9004−9018 (2022). doi: 10.1021/acsnano.2c00285