Nanoelectrochemistry of mammalian cells.
There is a significant current interest in development of new techniques for direct characterization of the intracellular redox state and high-resolution imaging of living cells. We used nanometer-sized amperometric probes in combination with the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) to carry out spatially resolved electrochemical experiments in cultured human breast cells. With the tip radius approximately 1,000 times smaller than that of a cell, an electrochemical probe can penetrate a cell and travel inside it without apparent damage to the membrane. The data demonstrate the possibility of measuring the rate of transmembrane charge transport and membrane potential and probing redox properties at the subcellular level. The same experimental setup was used for nanoscale electrochemical imaging of the cell surface.
Sun
Peng
P
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College-City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
Laforge
François O
FO
Abeyweera
Thushara P
TP
Rotenberg
Susan A
SA
Carpino
James
J
Mirkin
Michael V
MV
D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress
D006046:Gold