Smart genetically-encoded biosensors for the chemical monitoring of living systems

Abstract

Genetically-encoded biosensors provide the all-optical and non-invasive visualization of dynamic biochemical events within living systems. Here we describe the fundamentals, the current challenges and the opportunities of the field.

Fast and artifact-free excitation multiplexing using synchronized image scanning

“…The responses to the different excitation wavelengths then appear as distinct regions on the camera sensor, essentially mirroring the use of a conventional image splitter for emission multiplexing (figure 5a). One area where such a system finds obvious use is in the imaging of biosensors, fluorophores for which the emission is conditional on a well-defined aspect of their environment [29]. Within the large biosensor family, ratiometric biosensors encode this information as a change in the ratio of two excitation and/or emission bands.…”

Evidence of Cytolysin A nanopore incorporation in mammalian cells assessed by a graphical user interface

“…There are, however, relatively few fluorescent probes available and alternatives have proven labour-intensive to engineer. 6 Equally, Raman spectroscopy is a non-invasive proxy for fluorescence, but it is currently limited by low signal intensities. Alternatively, it is possible to perform single-cell magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, molecules can only be detected based on their spin polarization, limiting the range of compounds that can be imaged.…”