Optically and Structurally Stabilized Plasmo‐Bio Interlinking Networks

Abstract

Visualization of dynamic interlinking networks which respond and adapt to the constantly changing environment would be highly beneficial in developing new composite materials and active/responsive materials. Here, optically and structurally stabilized plasmo‐bio interlinking networks (PBINs) free from photobleaching for high resolution, long term visualization are reported. Necessary for structural and optical stability, a new stability algorithm to comprehensively quantify stability and detect minute instability undetectable by traditional methods is introduced. Biocompatible plasmonic gold nanorods (Bio‐AuNRs) are synthesized for high resolution, long term imaging by utilizing bromide‐free alternatives to achieve CTA+ free. Systematic physical, chemical, and biological characterizations reveal the structural and optical stability of Bio‐AuNRs required for constructing PBIN. Lastly, with actin as a model of interlinking networks of the cytoskeleton, optically and structurally stable PBIN (100% CTA+ free, 97% crosslinking rate) in applications as active/responsive materials, are demonstrated.

Interferometric Phase Intensity Nanoscopy (iPINE), Revealing Nanostructural Features, Resolves Proximal Nanometer Objects below the Diffraction Limit: Implications in Long-Time Super-Resolution of Biological Dynamics

“…The size of the elliptical Airy pattern would be limited by the diffraction limit; however, we anticipate that the ellipticity and the intensity of the elliptical Airy pattern would vary due to the dependence between the scattered field amplitude and the scattering cross-section of the target. As a model candidate of an anisotropic − nanostructured target to validate the fundamental reason that we can see the ellipse Airy pattern, we simulated the scattered electric field pattern of gold nanorods (Figure a). Here, we acquired the nanostructural information from the ellipse Airy pattern by phase-intensity and phase-ellipticity.…”

Rapid Depolarization‐Free Nanoscopic Background Elimination of Cellular Metallic Nanoprobes

“…To visualize nanoprobes, we synthesized biocompatible CTA+ free AuNRs (Bio‐AuNRs) by bromide‐free seed‐mediated growth followed by ligand exchange. [ 13 ] We incubated SH‐SY5Y cells with Bio‐AuNRs. Under dark‐field illumination, unpolarized illumination was scattered at selective polarizations by Bio‐AuNRs (Figure 4b,ii).…”

“…Attractive alternatives to fluorophores are plasmonic nanoprobes. [ 9–29 ] Unlike fluorophores, plasmonic nanoprobes undergo elastic scattering, and, therefore, do not photobleach or blink. The collective oscillation of electrons of plasmonic nanoprobes gives rise to strong interactions with photons, inducing extraordinarily large scattering cross sections as biomolecular recognition probes in super‐resolution imaging.…”

Intelligent Fusion Imaging Photonics for Real-Time Lighting Obstructions

“…We firstly incorporated the iNC (integrated nanoscopic correction) [ 21 , 22 ], developed previously for nanoscopic imaging [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ], into a vision system (CMOS camera) to address challenging and changing lighting conditions. The iNC was comprised of a series of fixed and variable retarders for systematic voltage control and dynamic modulation of the transmission polarization.…”