title: Nanoparticle PEBBLE sensors in live cells.
abstract: Live cell studies are of fundamental importance to the life sciences and their medical applications. Nanoparticle (NP)-based sensor platforms have many advantages as sensors for intracellular measurements, due to their flexible engineerability, noninvasive nature (due to their nano-size and nontoxic matrix), and, for some of the NPs, intrinsic optical properties. NP-based fluorescent sensors for intracellular measurements, so called PEBBLE sensors, have been developed for many important intracellular analytes and functions, including ions, small molecules, reactive oxygen species, physical properties, and enzyme activities, which are involved in many chemical, biochemical, and physical processes taking place inside the cell. PEBBLE sensors can be used with a standard microscope for simultaneous optical imaging of cellular structures and sensing of composition and function, just like investigations performed with molecular probes. However, PEBBLE sensors of any design and matrix can be delivered into cells by several standard methods, unlike dye molecules that need to be cell permeable. Furthermore, new sensing possibilities are enabled by PEBBLE nanosensors, which are not possible with molecular probes. This review summarizes a variety of designs of the PEBBLE sensors, their characteristics, and their applications to cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Yong-Eun Koo
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kopelman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions / Q000032:analysis; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002412:Cations / Q000032:analysis; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D017785:Photons; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D002412:Cations; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005609:Free Radicals; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide