Curtin University researchers have discovered a new way to more accurately analyse microscopic samples by essentially making them \u2018glow in the dark\u2019, through the use of chemically luminescent molecules.<\/p>\n
Lead researcher Dr Yan Vogel from the School of Molecular and Life Sciences said current methods of microscopic imaging rely on fluorescence, which means a light needs to be shining on the sample while it is being analysed.\u00a0 While this method is effective, it also has some drawbacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost biological cells and chemicals generally do not like exposure to light because it can destroy things – similar to how certain plastics lose their colours after prolonged sun exposure, or how our skin can get sunburnt,\u201d Dr Vogel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe light that shines on the samples is often too damaging for the living specimens and can be too invasive, interfering with the biochemical process and potentially limiting the study and scientists\u2019 understanding of the living organisms.<\/p>\n
\u201cNoting this, we set out to find a different way to analyse samples, to see if the process could successfully be completed without using any external lights shining on the sample.\u201d<\/p>\n
The research team successfully found a way to use chemical stimuli to essentially make user-selected areas of the samples \u2018glow in the dark,\u2019 allowing them to be analysed without adding any potentially damaging external light.<\/p>\n
Research co-author, Curtin University ARC Future Fellow Dr Simone Ciampi said that up until now, exciting a dye with chemical stimuli, instead of using high energy light, was not technically viable.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore discovering our new method, two-dimensional control of chemical energy conversion into light energy was an unmet challenge, mainly due to technical limitations,\u201d Dr Ciampi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are few tools available that allow scientists to trigger transient chemical changes at a specific microscopic site. Of the tools that are available, such as photoacids and photolabile protecting groups, direct light input or physical probes are needed to activate them, which are intrusive to the specimen.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur new method however, only uses external light shining on the back of an electrode to generate localised and microscopic oxidative hot-spots on the opposite side of the electrode.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically, the light shines on an opaque substrate, while the other side of the sample in contact with the specimen does not have any exposure to the external light at all. The brief light exposure activates the chemicals and makes the sample \u2018glow in the dark\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis ultimately addresses two of the major drawbacks of the fluorescence method \u2013 namely the interference of the light potentially over-exciting the samples, and the risk of damaging light-sensitive specimens.\u201d<\/p>\n