Themed collection Biological optical imaging

In this review, we discuss recent progress in emerging optoacoustic probes, their mechanisms, applications and challenges for biological imaging using MSOT.

Synthetic ZnDPA receptors are used for molecular imaging of disease and targeted therapeutics.

We designed a genetically encoded ratiometric fluorescent probe, SypHer3s, with enhanced brightness and optimized pK_a, which responds to pH changes in different cellular compartments.

We describe a lanthanide biosensor that responds to CDK4 kinase activity in melanoma cell extracts through a significant and dose dependent increase in luminescence, thanks to sensitization of a DOTA[Tb³⁺] complex incorporated into a CDK4 substrate peptide by a unique tryptophan residue in an adjacent phosphoaminoacid binding moiety.

A lysosome targetable naphthalimide based fluorescent probe has been designed and synthesized for selective imaging of H₂O₂ in different cells, tissues and in vivo models.

A novel enzyme-responsive reporter molecule (ERM-1) for selective localization of AmpC in pathogenic biofilms.

Bioluminescent molecular beacons have been developed using a modular design approach that relies on BRET between the bright luciferase NanoLuc and a Cy3 acceptor.

We report a new strategy that allows spatiotemporal visualization of the macromolecular crowding effect in cells.

The authors describe the engineering of the first monomeric photoswitchable fluorescent protein for use in oxidizing cellular enviornments.

Compact molecular imaging reagents made of affibody-fused fluorogen activating proteins enable high-contrast imaging or pre-targeting and rapid fluorescent detection.

Net charges, spacer length, hydrophobicity, and polarity effects on PSMA-targeted NIR fluorophores.

A bioorthogonal mitochondria targeted HNO sensor was applied for the detection of biological concentrations of HNO in vitro in organelles.

As a cell-permeable imaging probe, BD-tau selectively labeled pathological tau aggregates in live neuronal cells.

Mitochondria-directed GSH-activated release of a chlorambucil derivative and an AIE dye induces significantly increased mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis.

We report an advanced monomeric far-red fluorescent marker protein, mGarnet2, which shows excellent performance as a live-cell fusion marker for microscopy as well as STED nanoscopy with 640 nm excitation and 780 nm depletion wavelengths.

Blinking of some RFPs in live untreated cells can be used to reconstruct super-resolved images.

We describe the synthesis and characterization of a Trp-BODIPY fluorogenic peptide for labelling subcellular bodies released by human apoptotic cells.

The probe TPQ, which displays high selectivity and anti-interference ability, was successfully applied to endogenous hNQO1 imaging and for the identification of different cancer cells.

Tricky chemistry had to be addressed to make mechanosensitive membrane probes ready for use, including a chalcogen-bond mediated “molecular guillotinylation”.

We have explored the potential utility of several new designs for genetically encoded indicators of membrane potential.

An EGF-conjugated two-photon probe for real-time monitoring and quantitative analysis of luminal pH values during endocytic pathway activity was reported.

Primed photoconversion of Dendra2 in commonly available confocal and super-resolution microscopy setups equipped with blue and red lasers is described.