title: Monitoring intracellular redox potential changes using SERS nanosensors.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Craig A R
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Auchinvole
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGuinnes
authors.forename: Venkatesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mallikarjun
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.forename: Hamish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McNab
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D006046:Gold