Tandem fluorescence and Raman (fluoRaman) characterisation of a novel photosensitiser in colorectal cancer cell line SW480

Gala de Pablo, Julia; Chisholm, David R.; Steffen, Andreas; Nelson, Amanda K.; Mahler, Christoph; Marder, Todd B.; Peyman, Sally A.; Girkin, John M.; Ambler, Carrie A.; Whiting, Andrew; Evans, Stephen D.

Abstract

The development of new imaging tools, molecules and modalities is crucial to understanding biological processes and the localised cellular impact of bioactive compounds. A small molecule photosensitiser, DC473, has been designed to be both highly fluorescent and to exhibit a strong Raman signal in the cell-silent region of the Raman spectrum due to a diphenylacetylene structure. DC473 has been utilised to perform a range of novel tandem fluorescence and Raman (fluoRaman) imaging experiments, enabling a thorough examination of the compound's cellular localisation, exemplified in colorectal cancer cells (SW480). This multifunctional fluoRaman imaging modality revealed the presence of the compound in lipid droplets and only a weak signal in the cytosol, by both Raman and fluorescence imaging. In addition, Raman microscopy detected the compound in a cell compartment we labelled as the nucleolus, whereas fluorescence microscopy did not detect the fluoRaman probe due to solvatochromatic effects in a local polar environment. This last finding was only possible with the use of tandem confocal Raman and fluorescence methods. By following the approach detailed herein, incorporation of strong Raman functional groups into fluorophores can enable a plethora of fluoRaman experiments, shedding further light on potential drug compound's cellular behaviour and biological activity.

Citation

Gala de Pablo, J., Chisholm, D. R., Steffen, A., Nelson, A. K., Mahler, C., Marder, T. B., …Evans, S. D. (2018). Tandem fluorescence and Raman (fluoRaman) characterisation of a novel photosensitiser in colorectal cancer cell line SW480. Analyst, 143(24), 6113-6120. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8an01461b

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Nov 23, 2018
• Publication Date: Dec 21, 2018
• Deposit Date: Dec 5, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 5, 2018
• Journal: Analyst
• Print ISSN: 0003-2654
• Electronic ISSN: 1364-5528
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 143
• Issue: 24
• Pages: 6113-6120
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c8an01461b
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1341737