Bioinspired design of a polymer gel sensor for the realization of extracellular Ca(2+) imaging

Although the role of extracellular Ca(2+) draws increasing attention as a messenger in intercellular communications, there is currently no tool available for imaging Ca(2+) dynamics in extracellular regions. Here we report the first solid-state fluorescent Ca(2+) sensor that fulfills the essential r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2016-04, Vol.6, p.24275-24275
Main Authors: Ishiwari, Fumitaka, Hasebe, Hanako, Matsumura, Satoko, Hajjaj, Fatin, Horii-Hayashi, Noriko, Nishi, Mayumi, Someya, Takao, Fukushima, Takanori
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acrylic Resins - chemistry
Calcium - analysis
Extracellular Space - chemistry
Fluorescence
Optical Imaging - methods
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Summary:Although the role of extracellular Ca(2+) draws increasing attention as a messenger in intercellular communications, there is currently no tool available for imaging Ca(2+) dynamics in extracellular regions. Here we report the first solid-state fluorescent Ca(2+) sensor that fulfills the essential requirements for realizing extracellular Ca(2+) imaging. Inspired by natural extracellular Ca(2+)-sensing receptors, we designed a particular type of chemically-crosslinked polyacrylic acid gel, which can undergo single-chain aggregation in the presence of Ca(2+). By attaching aggregation-induced emission luminogen to the polyacrylic acid as a pendant, the conformational state of the main chain at a given Ca(2+) concentration is successfully translated into fluorescence property. The Ca(2+) sensor has a millimolar-order apparent dissociation constant compatible with extracellular Ca(2+) concentrations, and exhibits sufficient dynamic range and excellent selectivity in the presence of physiological concentrations of biologically relevant ions, thus enabling monitoring of submillimolar fluctuations of Ca(2+) in flowing analytes containing millimolar Ca(2+) concentrations.
ISSN:2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep24275