Near Infrared (NIR) Biosensors and Imaging Techniques

A special issue of Biosensors (ISSN 2079-6374). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical and Photonic Biosensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 12349

Special Issue Editors

Alzheimer Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 114, 16th street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
Interests: Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration; cancers; presenilin/γ-secretase; genetically encoded biosensor; FRET; live cell imaging; multiphoton microscopy
Alzheimer Research Unit, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 114, 16th street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
Interests: NIR imaging of Alzheimer’s disease; multiphoton microscopy; fluorescence tomography; fluorescence lifetime imaging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biosensors based on visible fluorophores have revolutionized all aspects of cell biology. However, how chemical and biological processes are spatiotemporally regulated in intact 3-dimensional tissues in vivo is still poorly understood. To address this shortcoming, there is growing interest in the development of longer wavelength biosensors in the near-infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum (700–1700 nm). This is motivated by the penetration ability of NIR light into tissue and the significantly lower light scattering and autofluorescence throughout the NIR spectral range. Additionally, NIR biosensors enable multiplexed measurements with previously developed visible probes, as well as compatibility with optogenetic tools. While early development in NIR fluorescence imaging focused on the NIR-I (700–1000 nm) window, recently there have been significant efforts to extend imaging to the NIR-II (1000–1700 nm) window where penetration depth is further enhanced. In this Special Issue of Biosensors, we seek cutting-edge research on the development of NIR biosensors of all types, including fluorescent proteins, organic and small molecule fluorophores, and inorganic nanoparticles that span the entire NIR-I and NIR-II spectral ranges, as well as the development of novel NIR imaging systems and techniques. Both original article and review submissions are welcome. 

Dr. Masato Maesako
Dr. Steven Hou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • NIR fluorescent protein
  • organic dyes
  • inorganic nanoparticles
  • NIR-II
  • FRET
  • NIR imaging systems
  • short-wave IR
  • proteolysis
  • cell signaling

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1932 KiB  
Article
Limited Substrate Specificity of PS/γ-Secretase Is Supported by Novel Multiplexed FRET Analysis in Live Cells
by Mei C. Q. Houser, Yuliia Turchyna, Florian Perrin, Lori Chibnik, Oksana Berezovska and Masato Maesako
Biosensors 2021, 11(6), 169; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios11060169 - 26 May 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2573
Abstract
Presenilin (PS)/γ-secretase is an aspartyl protease that processes a wide range of transmembrane proteins such as the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Notch1, playing essential roles in normal biological events and diseases. However, whether there is a substrate preference for PS/γ-secretase processing in [...] Read more.
Presenilin (PS)/γ-secretase is an aspartyl protease that processes a wide range of transmembrane proteins such as the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Notch1, playing essential roles in normal biological events and diseases. However, whether there is a substrate preference for PS/γ-secretase processing in cells is not fully understood. Structural studies of PS/γ-secretase enfolding a fragment of APP or Notch1 showed that the two substrates engage the protease in broadly similar ways, suggesting the limited substrate specificity of PS/γ-secretase. In the present study, we developed a new multiplexed imaging platform that, for the first time, allowed us to quantitatively monitor how PS/γ-secretase processes two different substrates (e.g., APP vs. Notch1) in the same cell. In this assay, we utilized the recently reported, spectrally compatible visible and near-infrared (NIR)-range Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensors that permit quantitative recording of PS/γ-secretase activity in live cells. Here, we show that, overall, PS/γ-secretase similarly cleaves Notch1 N100, wild-type APP C99, and familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD)-linked APP C99 mutants in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which further supports the limited PS/γ-secretase substrate specificity. On the other hand, a cell-by-cell basis analysis demonstrates a certain degree of variability in substrate recognition and processing by PS/γ-secretase among different cells. Our new multiplexed FRET assay could be a useful tool to better understand how PS/γ-secretase processes its multiple substrates in normal and disease conditions in live, intact cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Near Infrared (NIR) Biosensors and Imaging Techniques)
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Review

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20 pages, 3218 KiB  
Review
Contrast Agents for Photoacoustic Imaging: A Review Focusing on the Wavelength Range
by Seongyi Han, Dakyeon Lee, Sungjee Kim, Hyung-Hoi Kim, Sanghwa Jeong and Jeesu Kim
Biosensors 2022, 12(8), 594; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios12080594 - 03 Aug 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2818
Abstract
Photoacoustic imaging using endogenous chromophores as a contrast has been widely applied in biomedical studies owing to its functional imaging capability at the molecular level. Various exogenous contrast agents have also been investigated for use in contrast-enhanced imaging and functional analyses. This review [...] Read more.
Photoacoustic imaging using endogenous chromophores as a contrast has been widely applied in biomedical studies owing to its functional imaging capability at the molecular level. Various exogenous contrast agents have also been investigated for use in contrast-enhanced imaging and functional analyses. This review focuses on contrast agents, particularly in the wavelength range, for use in photoacoustic imaging. The basic principles of photoacoustic imaging regarding light absorption and acoustic release are introduced, and the optical characteristics of tissues are summarized according to the wavelength region. Various types of contrast agents, including organic dyes, semiconducting polymeric nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, and other inorganic nanoparticles, are explored in terms of their light absorption range in the near-infrared region. An overview of the contrast-enhancing capacity and other functional characteristics of each agent is provided to help researchers gain insights into the development of contrast agents in photoacoustic imaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Near Infrared (NIR) Biosensors and Imaging Techniques)
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20 pages, 2034 KiB  
Review
Brain–Computer Interfacing Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
by Kogulan Paulmurugan, Vimalan Vijayaragavan, Sayantan Ghosh, Parasuraman Padmanabhan and Balázs Gulyás
Biosensors 2021, 11(10), 389; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/bios11100389 - 13 Oct 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5587
Abstract
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a wearable optical spectroscopy system originally developed for continuous and non-invasive monitoring of brain function by measuring blood oxygen concentration. Recent advancements in brain–computer interfacing allow us to control the neuron function of the brain by combining it [...] Read more.
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a wearable optical spectroscopy system originally developed for continuous and non-invasive monitoring of brain function by measuring blood oxygen concentration. Recent advancements in brain–computer interfacing allow us to control the neuron function of the brain by combining it with fNIRS to regulate cognitive function. In this review manuscript, we provide information regarding current advancement in fNIRS and how it provides advantages in developing brain–computer interfacing to enable neuron function. We also briefly discuss about how we can use this technology for further applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Near Infrared (NIR) Biosensors and Imaging Techniques)
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