Large-scale single-cell analyses have become increasingly important given the role of cellular heterogeneity in complex biological systems. However, no current techniques enable optical imaging of uniquely-tagged individual cells. Fluorescence-based approaches can only distinguish a small number of distinct cells or cell groups at a time because of spectral crosstalk between conventional fluorophores. Here we investigate large-scale cell tracking using intracellular laser particles as imaging probes that emit coherent laser light with a characteristic wavelength. Made of silica-coated semiconductor microcavities, these laser particles have single-mode emission over a broad range from 1170 to 1580 nm with sub-nm linewidths, enabling massive spectral Users may view, print, copy, and download text and data-mine the content in such documents, for the purposes of academic research, subject always to the full Conditions of use:

Metal-based photosensitizers are of interest as their absorption and chemical binding properties can be modified via the use of different ligands. Ru(2+) based photosensitizers are known to be effective photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents against bacteria, whereas use for oncological indications in vivo has not been demonstrated with the same level of evidence. We present data showing that premixing the Ru(2+)-complex TLD1433 with transferrin increases the molar extinction coefficient, including longer activation wavelengths, reduces photobleaching rates, and reduces the toxicity of the complex improving overall PDT efficacy. As the transferrin receptor is upregulated in most malignancies, premixing the Ru(2+) complex with transferrin converts the active pharmaceutical ingredient TLD1433 into a drug of potentially considerable clinical utility.

Cancer remains a major global malaise requiring the advent of new, efficient and low-cost treatments. Photodynamic therapy, which combines a photosensitizer and photons to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species, has been established as an effective cancer treatment but has yet to become mainstream. One of the main limitations has been the paucity of photosensitizers that are effective over a wide range of wavelengths, can exert their cytotoxic effects in hypoxia, are easily synthesized and produce few if any side effects. To address these shortfalls, three new osmium-based photosensitizers (TLD1822, TLD1824 and TLD1829) were synthesized and their photophysical and photobiological attributes determined. These photosensitizers are panchromatic (i.e. black absorbers), activatable from 200 to 900 nm and have strong resistance to photobleaching. In vitro studies show photodynamic therapy efficacy with both red and near-infrared light in normoxic and hypoxic conditions, which translated to good in vivo efficacy of TLD1829 in a subcutaneous murine colon cancer model.