DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are deadly lesions that can lead to genetic defects and cell apoptosis. Techniques that directly detect DNA DSBs include scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and fluorescence based approaches. While these techniques can be used to identify DSBs they provide no information on the molecular events occurring at the break. Tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) can provide molecular information from DNA at the nanoscale and in combination with AFM provides a new way to visualize and characterize the molecular structure of DSBs. DSBs result from cleavage at the 3'- and 5'-bonds of deoxyribose upon exposure to UVC radiation based on the observation of POH and methyl/methylene deformation modes enhanced in the TERS spectra. It is hypothesized that strand fragments are hydrogen-terminated at the lesion, indicating the action of free radicals during photon exposure.

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SR-FTIR in combination with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to investigate macromolecular changes in a population of melanocytes and their extracted nuclei induced by environmentally relevant fluxes of UVR (Ultraviolet Radiation). Living cells and isolated cellular nuclei were investigated post-irradiation for three different irradiation dosages (130, 1505, 15,052 Jm(-2) UVR, weighted) after either 24 or 48 hours of incubation. DNA conformational changes were observed in cells exposed to an artificial UVR solar-simulator source as evidenced by a shift in the DNA asymmetric phosphodiester vibration from 1236 cm(-1) to 1242 cm(-1) in the case of the exposed cells and from 1225 cm(-1) to 1242 cm(-1) for irradiated nuclei. PCA Scores plots revealed distinct clustering of spectra from irradiated cells and nuclei from non-irradiated controls in response to the range of applied UVR radiation doses. 3D Raman confocal imaging in combination with k-means cluster analysis was applied to study the effect of the UVR radiation exposure on cellular nuclei. Chemical changes associated with apoptosis were detected and included intra-nuclear lipid deposition along with chromatin condensation. The results reported here demonstrate the utility of SR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to probe in situ DNA damage in cell nuclei resulting from UVR exposure. These results are in agreement with the increasing body of evidence that lipid accumulation is a characteristic of aggressive cancer cells, and are involved in the production of membranes for rapid cell proliferation.

Spore-forming bacteria are a class of microorganisms that possess the ability to survive in extreme environmental conditions. Morphological features of spores assure their resistance to stress factors such as high temperature, radiation, disinfectants, and drying. Consequently, spore elimination in industrial and medical environments is very challenging. Ceragenins are a new class of cationic lipids characterized by a broad spectrum of bactericidal activity resulting from amphipathic nature and membrane-permeabilizing properties. To assess the impact of ceragenin CSA-13 on spores formed by Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6051), we performed the series of experiments confirming that amphipathic and membrane-permeabilizing properties of CSA-13 are sufficient to disrupt the structure of B. subtilis spores resulting in decreased viability. Raman spectroscopy analysis provided evidence that upon CSA-13 treatment the number of CaDPA-positive spores was clearly diminished. As a consequence, a loss of impermeability of the inner membranes of spores, accompanied by a decrease in spore resistance and killing take place. In addition to their broad antimicrobial spectrum, ceragenins possess great potential for development as new sporicidal agents.

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Nowadays, it is well established that changes of cell stiffness observed by atomic force microscopy are linked with the cell cytoskeleton. Its structural and functional alterations are underlying major diseases such as cancer, inflammation or neurodegenerative disorders. So far, the use of atomic force microscopy is mostly focused on the determination of the Young modulus using the modified Hertz model. It can quantitatively describe the elastic properties of living cells, however, its value is burdened by the fact that cells are neither isotropic nor homogeneous material. Often, during the atomic force microscopy measurements, the hysteresis between the loading and unloading curves are observed which indicates the dissipation of an energy. In our studies, the index of plasticity was introduced to enumerate such effect during a single loading-unloading cycle. As the results show, such approach delivers an additional parameter describing the mechanical state of cell cytoskeleton. The analysis was performed on test samples where the mechanical properties of the melanoma cells were changed by glutaraldehyde and cytochalasin D treatments. The non-treated cells were compared with fibroblasts.