Work

Focal Activation of Cells by Plasmon Resonance Assisted Optical Injection of Signaling Molecules

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Experimental methods for single cell intracellular delivery are essential for probing cell signaling dynamics within complex cellular networks, such as those making up the tumor microenvironment. Here, we show a quantitative and general method of interrogation of signaling pathways. We applied highly focused near-infrared laser light to optically inject gold-coated liposomes encapsulating bioactive molecules into single cells for focal activation of cell signaling. For this demonstration, we encapsulated either inositol trisphosphate (IP3), an endogenous cell signaling second messenger, or adenophostin A (AdA), a potent analogue of IP, within 100 nm gold-coated liposomes, and injected these gold-coated liposomes and their contents into the cytosol of single ovarian carcinoma cells to initiate calcium (Ca(2+)) release from intracellular stores. Upon optical injection of IP3 or AdA at doses above the activation threshold, we observed increases in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration within the injected cell initiating the propagation of a Ca(2+) wave throughout nearby cells. As confirmed by octanol-induced inhibition, the intercellular Ca(2+) wave traveled via gap junctions. Optical injection of gold-coated liposomes represents a quantitative method of focal activation of signaling cascades of broad interest in biomedical research.

Source: ACS Nano

DOI: 10.1021/nn5015903

Authors: Gabriel V. Orsinger, Joshua D. Williams, Marek Romanowski

Institutions: University of Arizona, University of Arizona Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500