A5056249489- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
- Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- X-ray Diffraction in Crystallography
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Porphyrin and Phthalocyanine Chemistry
- Lanthanide and Transition Metal Complexes
- Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies
- Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Radiation Therapy and Dosimetry
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Molecular Sensors and Ion Detection
- DNA Repair Mechanisms
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Nonlinear Optical Materials Studies
- Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
- Analytical Chemistry and Sensors
- Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
Science and Technology Facilities Council
2015-2024
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
2015-2024
Research Complex at Harwell
2015-2024
Oxford Brookes University
2016-2021
Science Oxford
2020
Didcot Community Hospital
2017-2019
Centro Laser
2016
Central Laser Facility
2006-2016
Oxfam
2016
Dublin City University
2003-2008
This work explores time-resolved emission imaging microscopy (TREM) for noninvasive and mapping of live cells on a hitherto uncharted microsecond time scale. Simple robust molecules this purpose have long been sought. We developed highly emissive, synthetically versatile, photostable platinum(II) complexes that make TREM practicable reality. [PtLCl], {HL = 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene derivatives}, are charge-neutral, small low cytotoxicity accumulate intracellularly within remarkably short...
A cell membrane can be considered a liquid-phase plane in which lipids and proteins theoretically are free to diffuse. Numerous reports, however, describe retarded diffusion of animal cells. This anomalous results from combination structuring factors including protein-protein interactions, cytoskeleton corralling, lipid organization into microdomains. In plant cells, plasma-membrane (PM) have been described as relatively immobile, but the control mechanisms that structure PM not studied....
Lifetime imaging microscopy with sub-micron resolution provides essential understanding of living systems by allowing both the visualisation their structure, and sensing bio-relevant analytes in vivo using external probes. Chemistry is pivotal for development next generation bio-tools, where contrast, sensitivity, molecular specificity facilitate observation processes fundamental to life. A limitation at present nanosecond lifetime conventional fluorescent probes which typically confines...
Abstract The first transition‐metal complex‐based two‐photon absorbing luminescence lifetime probes for cellular DNA are presented. This allows cell imaging of free from endogenous fluorophores and potentially facilitates deep tissue imaging. In this initial study, ruthenium(II) luminophores used as phosphorescent microscopy (PLIM) nuclear in both live fixed cells. DNA‐bound display characteristic emission lifetimes more than 160 ns, while shorter‐lived cytoplasmic is also observed. These...
The cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) epidermal cells is a network of tubules and cisternae undergoing dramatic rearrangements. Reticulons are integral membrane proteins involved shaping ER tubules. Here, we characterized the localization, topology, effect, interactions five Arabidopsis thaliana reticulons (RTNs), isoforms 1-4 13, ER. Our results indicate that RTNLB13 RTNLB1-4 colocate to constrict tubular membrane. All RTNs preferentially accumulate on...
Abstract Combined high‐resolution fluorescence detection X‐ray absorption near‐edge spectroscopy, diffraction, and emission spectroscopy have been employed under operando conditions to obtain detailed new insight into the nature of Mo species on zeolite ZSM‐5 during methane dehydroaromatization. The results show that isolated Mo–oxo present after calcination are converted by CH 4 metastable MoC x O y species, which primarily responsible for C 2 H /C 3 formation. Further carburization leads...
Abstract There is a significant drive to identify alternative materials that exhibit room temperature phosphorescence for technologies including bio-imaging, photodynamic therapy and organic light-emitting diodes. Ideally, these should be non-toxic cheap, it will possible control their photoluminescent properties. This was achieved here by embedding carbon nanodots within crystalline particles of alkaline earth carbonates, sulphates oxalates. The resultant nanocomposites are luminescent...
Abstract Gold nanoparticle radiosensitization represents a novel technique in enhancement of ionising radiation dose and its effect on biological systems. Variation between theoretical predictions experimental measurement is significant enough that the mechanism leading to an increase cell killing DNA damage still not clear. We present first results take into account both measured biodistribution gold nanoparticles at cellular level range product electrons responsible for energy deposition....
The dinuclear photo-oxidizing RuII complex [{Ru(TAP2)}2(tpphz)]4+ (TAP = 1,4,5,8- tetraazaphenanthrene, tpphz tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c:3″,2′′-h:2‴,3′′′-j]phenazine), 14+, is readily taken up by live cells localizing in mitochondria and nuclei. In this study, the two-photon absorption cross section of 14+ quantified its use as a absorbing phototherapeutic reported. It was confirmed that photoexcited using near-infrared, NIR, light through absorption, TPA. 2-D cell cultures, irradiation with...
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are biologically one of the most important cellular lesions and possess varying degrees chemical complexity. The notion that repairability more chemically complex DSBs is inefficient led to concept extent DSB complexity underlies severity biological consequences. repair by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) has been extensively studied but it remains unknown whether require a different sub-set NHEJ protein for their compared with simple DSBs. To address this,...
Plant plasma-membrane (PM) proteins are involved in several vital processes, such as detection of pathogens, solute transport, and cellular signaling. For these to function effectively there needs be structure within the PM allowing, for example, same signaling cascade spatially organized. Here we demonstrate that with divergent functions located clusters differing size membrane using subdiffraction-limited Airyscan confocal microscopy. Single particle tracking reveals move at different...
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a ubiquitous organelle that plays roles in secretory protein production, folding, quality control, and lipid biosynthesis. cortical ER plants pleomorphic structured as tubular network capable of morphing into flat cisternae, mainly at three-way junctions, back to tubules. Plant reticulon family proteins (RTNLB) tubulate the by dimerization oligomerization, creating localized membrane tensions result curvature. Some RTNLB ER-shaping are present plasmodesmata...
Cells emit light at ultra-low intensities: photons which are produced as by-products of cellular metabolism, distinct from other emission processes such delayed luminescence, bioluminescence, and chemiluminescence. The phenomenon is known by a large range names, including, but not limited to, biophotons, biological autoluminescence, metabolic photon ultraweak (UPE), the latter shall be used for purposes this review. It worth noting that when neither ‘weak’ nor specifically in...
The early picosecond time scale excited-state dynamics of the paradigm tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)Ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bpy)3]2+) and related complexes have been examined by Kerr-gated time-resolved resonance Raman (ps-TR3) spectroscopy. evolution signature bands lowest thermally equilibrated excited (THEXI) state under two-color pump/probe conditions show that this is not fully populated within several hundred femtoseconds as proposed previously but rather only first 20 ps following excitation. In...
Copper ions are essential for many biological processes. However, high concentrations of copper can be detrimental to the cell or organism. A novel naphthalimide derivative bearing a monoboronic acid group (BNP) was investigated as Cu2+ selective fluorescent sensor in living cells. This is one rare examples reversible chemosensors which uses boronic binding site. Moreover, adduct BNP–Cu2+ displays fluorescence enhancement with fructose. The uptake this compound HeLa cancer cells imaged using...
Abstract Chromatin undergoes dramatic condensation and decondensation as cells transition between the different phases of cell cycle. The organization chromatin in chromosomes is still one key challenges structural biology. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), a technique which utilizes fluorophore’s fluorescence to probe changes its environment, was used investigate variations compaction fixed human chromosomes. Fixed metaphase interphase were labeled with DNA minor groove binder, DAPI,...
Peroxisomes are highly motile organelles that display a range of motions within short time frame. In static snapshots, they can be juxtaposed to chloroplasts, which has led the hypothesis physically interacting. Here, using optical tweezers, we tested dynamic physical interaction in vivo. Using near-infrared tweezers combined with TIRF microscopy, were able trap peroxisomes and approximate forces involved chloroplast association vivo tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) observed weaker tethering...
Organic aerosols (OAs) play important roles in multiple atmospheric processes, including climate change, and can impact human health. The physico-chemical properties of OAs are for all these processes evolve through reactions with various components, oxidants. dynamic nature makes it challenging to obtain a true representation their composition surface chemistry. Here we investigate the microscopic viscosity model OA composed squalene, undergoing chemical aging. We employ Fluorescent...
Significance High-resolution microcomputed tomography with benchtop X-ray sources requires long scan times because of the heat load limitation on anode. We present an alternative, high-brightness plasma-based source that does not suffer from this restriction. A demonstration a centimeter-scale complex organism achieves equivalent quality to commercial scanner. will soon be able record such scans in minutes, rather than hours required by conventional tubes.
We describe an innovative system that exports diverse recombinant proteins in membrane-bound vesicles from E. coli. These compartmentalize within a micro-environment enables production of otherwise challenging insoluble, toxic, or disulfide-bond containing bacteria. The release vesicle-packaged supports isolation the culture and allows long-term storage active protein. This technology results high yields vesicle-packaged, functional for efficient downstream processing wide range applications...
Abstract Cytoplasmic viscosity is a crucial parameter in determining rates of diffusion-limited reactions. Changes are associated with several diseases, whilst nuclear determines gene integrity, regulation and expression. Yet how drugs including DNA-damaging agents affect unknown. We demonstrate the use platinum complex, Pt[L]Cl, that localizes efficiently mostly nucleus as probe for viscosity. The phosphorescence lifetime Pt[L]Cl sensitive to provides an excellent tool investigate impact...
Characteristic aluminum K (AlK) (energy of 1.5 keV) and copper L (CuL) approximately 0.96 ultrasoft X rays have been used to investigate the effectiveness numerous low-energy secondary electrons produced by low-linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation. Cellular inactivation induction rejoining DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in Chinese hamster V79-4 cells irradiated as monolayers with these radiations studied under aerobic anaerobic conditions. The mean cell thickness, determined...