title: Dendrimer-based fluorescent indicators: in vitro and in vivo applications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of fluorescent proteins and synthetic molecules whose fluorescence properties are controlled by the environment makes it possible to monitor physiological and pathological events in living systems with minimal perturbation. A large number of small organic dyes are available and routinely used to measure biologically relevant parameters. Unfortunately their application is hindered by a number of limitations stemming from the use of these small molecules in the biological environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present a novel dendrimer-based architecture leading to multifunctional sensing elements that can overcome many of these problems. Applications in vitro, in living cells and in vivo are reported. In particular, we image for the first time extracellular pH in the brain in a mouse epilepsy model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that the proposed architecture can represent a useful and novel tool in fluorescence imaging that can be widely applied in conjunction with a broad range of sensing dyes and experimental setups.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Pisa, Italy. l.albertazzi@sns.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Albertazzi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brondi
authors.forename: Giovanni M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: Sebastian Sulis
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Signore
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Storti
authors.forename: Gian Michele
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ratto
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beltram
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D016466:CHO Cells; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000378:metabolism; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009930:Organic Chemicals