All-Optical Detection of Neuronal Membrane Depolarization in Live Cells Using Colloidal Quantum Dots

Caglar M, Pandya R, Xiao J, Foster SK, Divitini G, Chen RYS, Greenham NC, Franze K, Rao A, Keyser UF (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Nano Letters American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b03026

Abstract

Luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have recently been suggested as novel probes for imaging and sensing cell membrane voltages. However, a key bottleneck for their development is a lack of techniques to assess QD responses to voltages generated in the aqueous electrolytic environments typical of biological systems. Even more generally, there have been relatively few efforts to assess the response of QDs to voltage changes in live cells. Here, we develop a platform for monitoring the photoluminescence (PL) response of QDs under AC and DC voltage changes within aqueous ionic environments. We evaluate both traditional CdSe/CdS and more biologically compatible InP/ZnS QDs at a range of ion concentrations to establish their PL/voltage characteristics on chip. Wide-field, few-particle PL measurements with neuronal cells show the QDs can be used to track local voltage changes with greater sensitivity (I"PL up to twice as large) than state-of-The-Art calcium imaging dyes, making them particularly appealing for tracking subthreshold events. Additional physiological observation studies showed that while CdSe/CdS dots have greater PL responses on membrane depolarization, their lower cytotoxicity makes InP/ZnS far more suitable for voltage sensing in living systems. Our results provide a methodology for the rational development of QD voltage sensors and highlight their potential for imaging changes in cell membrane voltage.

Authors with CRIS profile

Kristian Franze

Involved external institutions

University of Cambridge GB United Kingdom (GB)

How to cite

APA:

Caglar, M., Pandya, R., Xiao, J., Foster, S.K., Divitini, G., Chen, R.Y.S.,... Keyser, U.F. (2019). All-Optical Detection of Neuronal Membrane Depolarization in Live Cells Using Colloidal Quantum Dots. Nano Letters. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b03026

MLA:

Caglar, Mustafa, et al. "All-Optical Detection of Neuronal Membrane Depolarization in Live Cells Using Colloidal Quantum Dots." Nano Letters (2019).

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