Discovery makes microscopic imaging possible in dark conditions

Date:
July 9, 2020
Source:
Curtin University
Summary:
Researchers have discovered a new way to more accurately analyze
microscopic samples by essentially making them 'glow in the dark',
through the use of chemically luminescent molecules. Current methods
of microscopic imaging rely on fluorescence, which means a light
needs to be shining on the sample while it is being analyzed. While
this method is effective, it also has some drawbacks.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Curtin University researchers have discovered a new way to more accurately analyse microscopic samples by essentially making them 'glow in the dark', through the use of chemically luminescent molecules.


==========================================================================
Lead researcher Dr Yan Vogel from the School of Molecular and Life
Sciences said current methods of microscopic imaging rely on fluorescence, which means a light needs to be shining on the sample while it is being analysed. While this method is effective, it also has some drawbacks.

"Most biological cells and chemicals generally do not like exposure to
light because it can destroy things -- similar to how certain plastics
lose their colours after prolonged sun exposure, or how our skin can
get sunburnt," Dr Vogel said.

"The light that shines on the samples is often too damaging for the
living specimens and can be too invasive, interfering with the biochemical process and potentially limiting the study and scientists' understanding
of the living organisms.

"Noting this, we set out to find a different way to analyse samples,
to see if the process could successfully be completed without using any external lights shining on the sample." The research team successfully
found a way to use chemical stimuli to essentially make user-selected
areas of the samples 'glow in the dark,' allowing them to be analysed
without adding any potentially damaging external light.

Research co-author, Curtin University ARC Future Fellow Dr Simone Ciampi
said that up until now, exciting a dye with chemical stimuli, instead
of using high energy light, was not technically viable.

"Before discovering our new method, two-dimensional control of chemical
energy conversion into light energy was an unmet challenge, mainly due
to technical limitations," Dr Ciampi said.

"There are few tools available that allow scientists to trigger transient chemical changes at a specific microscopic site. Of the tools that are available, such as photoacids and photolabile protecting groups, direct
light input or physical probes are needed to activate them, which are
intrusive to the specimen.

"Our new method however, only uses external light shining on the back of
an electrode to generate localised and microscopic oxidative hot-spots
on the opposite side of the electrode.

"Basically, the light shines on an opaque substrate, while the other side
of the sample in contact with the specimen does not have any exposure
to the external light at all. The brief light exposure activates the
chemicals and makes the sample 'glow in the dark'.

"This ultimately addresses two of the major drawbacks of the fluorescence method -- namely the interference of the light potentially over-exciting
the samples, and the risk of damaging light-sensitive specimens."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Curtin_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Yan B. Vogel, Nadim Darwish, Simone Ciampi. Spatiotemporal
Control of
Electrochemiluminescence Guided by a Visible Light
Stimulus. Cell Reports Physical Science, 2020; 100107 DOI:
10.1016/j.xcrp.2020.100107 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200709105235.htm

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