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Luminescent Sensors for Detection of Oxidative Stress

Biosensor technology has revolutionised our diagnosis of diseases (such as cancer) and our understanding of metabolism. A key aspect of biosensor technology is its ability to measure small changes at very low concentrations. Fluorescence and luminescence-based detection systems have been shown to have excellent limits of detection down to femto- and picomolar levels for a range of processes involved in metabolism. But as with anything there is a constant quest for more sensitivity and selectively. This is especially true in the area of reactive oxygen sensing, where detection is not trivial as they are short lived, highly reactive and present in low concentration and not fixed in single spatial locations. This presentation will showcase work of the Plush Bio-Imaging group to use fluorescence and luminescence to further our knowledge of metabolism with a focus on reactive oxygen species for biology. This presentation will highlight how luminescent metal ion complexes can be used to understand changes in metabolic profiles in heart biology and how the incorporation of luminescent complexes into nanostructures can significantly improve the spectral properties of emitting molecules such as quantum yield, photostability and luminescence. The work will span the initial proof of concept obtaining a 9-fold enhancement of luminescence, to a streptavidin sensing and finally the development of both H₂O₂ and singlet oxygen (¹O2) biosensors.

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Figure 1. A) Ir(III) complex localised with mitochondria in fixed cardiomyocyte B) Schematic image of ¹O2 sensor and C) Eu(III) complex 3D printed on an optical fibre for sensing