Molecular probes for nonlinear optical imaging of biological membranes

Mireille H. Blanchard-Desce; Lionel Ventelon; Sandrine Charier; Laurent Moreaux; Jerome Mertz

doi:10.1117/12.449848

7 December 2001 Molecular probes for nonlinear optical imaging of biological membranes

Mireille H. Blanchard-Desce, Lionel Ventelon, Sandrine Charier, Laurent Moreaux, Jerome Mertz

Proceedings Volume 4461, Linear and Nonlinear Optics of Organic Materials; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.449848
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) are nonlinear optical (NLO) phenomena that scale with excitation intensity squared, and hence give rise to an intrinsic 3-dimensional resolution when used in microscopic imaging. TPEF microscopy has gained widespread popularity in the biology community whereas SHG microscopy promises to be a powerful tool because of its sensitivity to local asymmetry. We have implemented an approach toward the design of NLO-probes specifically adapted for SHG and/or TPEF imaging of biological membranes. Our strategy is based on the design of nanoscale amphiphilic NLO-phores. We have prepared symmetrical bolaamphiphilic fluorophores combining very high two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections in the visible red region and affinity for cellular membranes. Their incorporation and orientation in lipid membranes can be monitored via TPEF anisotropy. We have also prepared amphiphilic push-pull chromophores exhibiting both large TPA cross-sections and very large first hyperpolarizabilities in the near-IR region. These NLO-probes have proved to be particularly useful for imaging of biological membranes by simultaneous SHG and TPEF microscopy and offer attractive prospects for real-time imaging of fundamental biological processes such as adhesion, fusion or reporting of membrane potentials.

Citation Download Citation

Mireille H. Blanchard-Desce, Lionel Ventelon, Sandrine Charier, Laurent Moreaux, and Jerome Mertz "Molecular probes for nonlinear optical imaging of biological membranes", Proc. SPIE 4461, Linear and Nonlinear Optics of Organic Materials, (7 December 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.449848

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