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Genetically encoded pH-sensors are the promising instrument for intracellular pH (pHi) registration. In tumor tissue the reversed pH gradient is known to be the important hallmark of cancer and regulator of tumor response on chemotherapy. However the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs on the pHi of tumor cells is largely unknown. Here we using genetically encoded ratiometric pH-sensor SypHer2 were able to monitor pHi in vitro in cell monolayer and tumor spheroids and in vivo in tumor xenografts. In tumor cell monolayer different pHi dynamic was revealed in the dying cell and division-arrested surviving cells. The treatment effect of taxol varied in monolayer and tumor spheroids and pHi changes were able to reflect these difference. The tend to pHi decrease in respect to taxol in vivo matched with results obtained for the cell monolayer. Also in both cases the cell cycle-arrest was the main treatment effect in contrast to tumor spheroid, where the cell death was the primary result. These findings elucidate the significance of pHi in the mechanisms of taxol action on cervical cancer cells and will be valuable for development of new approaches for cancer treatment.

The aim of the study was to analyze the input of cytosolic and oxidative pathways of energy metabolism in ATP production of cultured cells by using FLIM and routine biochemical techniques. Fluorescent imaging of endogenous cofactors NADH and FAD demonstrated a more pronounced oxidative redox status of fibroblasts compared to tumor cells and significant differences in metabolic processes in which FAD is involved. Analysis of glucose and lactate content and absorption showed that tumor cells not only absorb glucose more intensively from the environment, but also use it more intensively during anaerobic glycolysis. Lower energy efficiency of glycolysis and FAD oxidative path and greater energy consumption is the reason for the lower concentration of ATP in tumor cells. Presumably, the prevalence of glycolytic metabolism in tumor cells could be largely determined by their hypoxic reprogramming through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway. The results of the study suggest that correlation between intracellular consumption of glucose and cytosolic concentration of NADH may contribute to the characteristic of energy metabolism state of cultured cells and serve as the biosensor of malignant cell transformation.

The synthesis of phosphorescent transition metal complexes with emission in the near infrared (NIR) region, appreciable quantum yields, compatibility with physiological media and suitability for application as effective oxygen sensors in biological systems is still a challenge in the field of synthetic organometallic chemistry. In addition to the sufficiently high requirements in photophysics, they also have to meet strict conditions for biocompatibility and selectivity of sensory responses in a multicomponent biological medium. Building on our previous research, we have synthesized three novel iridium [Ir(N^C)2(N^N)]+ complexes (N^C – metalated ligands based on benzothienyl-phenanthridine core; N^N – pyridine-triazole diimine chelate), with their periphery decorated with 1, 2 or 3 relatively small “double-tail” oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) {–C(O)NHCH(CH2OC2H4OC2H4OCH3)2} functions. All these complexes display desirable photophysical characteristics: excitation at the high energy limit of the “window of transparency”, NIR emission at ca. 710–720 nm, rather high quantum yields (13–15% in degassed methanol solution) and strong lifetime responses to variations in oxygen concentration. However, the study of their behavior in model biological systems (human serum albumin (HSA) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) solutions) by gel permeation chromatography and absorption/luminescence spectroscopy showed that only the complex bearing OEG functions at all three chelate ligands is compatible with the requirements of imaging experiments, i.e. it is water soluble and bleaching stable, has low toxicity and its sensory response is insensitive to the presence of the components of biological media, temperature, and pH. The sensing properties of this molecular probe were studied in detail and test imaging experiments in phosphorescence lifetime imaging (PLIM) mode were carried out on cancer cell cultures. We demonstrate that this probe is accumulated in the cell cytoplasm and exhibits low cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 125 μM. Phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (PLIM) of live mouse colorectal cancer cells (CT26) and human oral squamous carcinoma (SCC-4) stained with the probe has shown lifetimes in the 1.35–2.51 μs interval with pronounced responses to oxygen under hypoxic conditions, thus providing the basis for qualitative detection of hypoxia and semi-quantitative oxygen concentration measurements.

Molecular, morphological and physiological heterogeneity is the inherent property of cells, which governs differences in their response to external influence. The tumor cells metabolic heterogeneity is of a special interest due to its clinical relevance to the tumor progression and therapeutic outcomes. Rapid, sensitive and non-invasive assessment of metabolic heterogeneity of cells is of a great demand for biomedical sciences. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), which is an all-optical technique is an emerging tool for sensing and quantifying cellular metabolism by measuring fluorescence decay parameters (FDPs) of endogenous fluorophores, such as NAD(P)H. To achieve the accurate discrimination between metabolically diverse cellular subpopulations, appropriate approaches to FLIM data collection and analysis are needed. In this report, the unique capability of FLIM to attain the overarching goal of discriminating metabolic heterogeneity has been demonstrated. This has been achieved using a novel approach to data analysis based on the non-parametric analysis, which revealed a much better sensitivity to the presence of metabolically distinct subpopulations as compare more traditional approaches of FLIM measurements and analysis. The new approach was further validated for imaging cultured cancer cells treated with chemotherapy. Those results pave the way for an accurate detection and quantification of cellular metabolic heterogeneity using FLIM, which will be valuable for assessing therapeutic vulnerabilities and predicting clinical outcomes.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have long been known as one of the most important players in tumor initiation and progression. Even so, there is an incomplete understanding of the identification of CAFs among tumor microenvironment cells as the list of CAF marker genes varies greatly in the literature, therefore it is imperative to find a better way to identify reliable markers of CAFs. To this end, we summarized a large number of single-cell RNA-sequencing data of multiple tumor types and corresponding normal tissues. As a result, for 9 different types of cancer, we identified CAF-specific gene expression signatures and found 10 protein markers that showed strongly positive staining of tumor stroma according to the analysis of IHC images from the Human Protein Atlas database. Our results give an insight into selecting the most appropriate combination of cancer-associated fibroblast markers. Furthermore, comparison of different approaches for studying differences between cancer-associated and normal fibroblasts (NFs) illustrates the superiority of transcriptome analysis of fibroblasts obtained from fresh tissue samples. Using single-cell RNA sequencing data, we identified common differences in gene expression patterns between normal and cancer-associated fibroblasts, which do not depend on the type of tumor.

New water-soluble polynorbornenes P1–P4 containing oligoether, amino acid groups and luminophoric complexes of iridium(III) were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization. The polymeric products in organic solvents and in water demonstrate intense photoluminescence in the red spectral region. The polymers P1 and P3 with 1-phenylisoquinoline cyclometalating ligands in iridium fragments reveal 4–6 fold higher emission quantum yields in solutions than those of P2 and P4 that contain iridium complexes with 1-(thien-2-yl)isoquinoline cyclometalating ligands. The emission parameters of P1–P4 in degassed solutions essentially differ from those in the aerated solutions showing oxygen-dependent quenching of phosphorescence. Biological testing of P1 and P3 demonstrates that the polymers do not penetrate into live cultured cancer cells and normal skin fibroblasts and do not possess cytotoxicity within the concentrations and time ranges reasonable for biological studies. In vivo, the polymers display longer phosphorescence lifetimes in mouse tumors than in muscle, as measured using phosphorescence lifetime imaging (PLIM), which correlates with tumor hypoxia. Therefore, preliminary evaluation of the synthesized polymers shows their suitability for noninvasive in vivo assessments of oxygen levels in biological tissues.

Synthesis of biocompatible near infrared phosphorescent complexes and their application in bioimaging as triplet oxygen sensors in live systems are still challenging areas of organometallic chemistry. We have designed and synthetized four novel iridium [Ir(N^C)2(N^N)]+ complexes (N^C–benzothienyl-phenanthridine based cyclometalated ligand, N^N–pyridin-phenanthroimidazol diimine chelate), decorated with oligo(ethylene glycol) groups to impart these emitters’ solubility in aqueous media, biocompatibility, and to shield them from interaction with bio-environment. These substances were fully characterized using NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass-spectrometry. The complexes exhibited excitation close to the biological “window of transparency”, NIR emission at 730 nm, and quantum yields up to 12% in water. The compounds with higher degree of the chromophore shielding possess low toxicity, bleaching stability, absence of sensitivity to variations of pH, serum, and complex concentrations. The properties of these probes as oxygen sensors for biological systems have been studied by using phosphorescence lifetime imaging experiments in different cell cultures. The results showed essential lifetime response onto variations in oxygen concentration (2.0–2.3 μs under normoxia and 2.8–3.0 μs under hypoxia conditions) in complete agreement with the calibration curves obtained “in cuvette”. The data obtained indicate that these emitters can be used as semi-quantitative oxygen sensors in biological systems.

This Letter presents, to the best of our knowledge, a novel optical configuration for direct time-resolved measurements of luminescence from singlet oxygen, both in solutions and from cultured cells on photodynamic therapy. The system is based on the superconducting single-photon detector, coupled to the confocal scanner that is modified for the near-infrared measurements. The recording of a phosphorescence signal from singlet oxygen at 1270 nm has been done using time-correlated single-photon counting. The performance of the system is verified by measuring phosphorescence from singlet oxygen generated by the photosensitizers commonly used in photodynamic therapy: methylene blue and chlorin e6. The described system can be easily upgraded to the configuration when both phosphorescence from singlet oxygen and fluorescence from the cells can be detected in the imaging mode. Thus, co-localization of the signal from singlet oxygen with the areas inside the cells can be done.

Successful gastrointestinal surgery is based on the precise knowledge of the morphological, functional and metabolic state of the bowel wall at a specific time point. Current trends include the development of real-time, minimally invasive, label-free and rapid techniques for tissue assessment in combination with algorithms of data processing. The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of trans-serous multimodal optical coherence tomography (MM OCT) and FLIM macro-imaging in detecting changes in microstructure, blood circulation and metabolism of intestinal wall caused by acute arterial ischemia in experiment. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 19-75-10096.

The aim of our work was to investigate energy metabolism of patient’s tumor ex vivo using fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). Tumor metabolism was examined by detecting the fluorescence lifetime of metabolic cofactor NAD(P)H. In glioma tumor samples was shown a different energy metabolism with white matter. Colorectal tumors displayed marked intertumor heterogeneity and shift towards oxidative energy metabolism. Thereby, the possibility of assessing the energy metabolism in postoperative tumor samples of patients was shown.

3D models based on cells differentiated from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are widely used to identify disease phenotypes, to accurately analyze dysfunctions at the level of human tissues and organs, to screen new drugs, which makes them more promising tool for biomedical research tasks than monolayer cultures, which is associated with their proximity to in vivo. The metabolic activity with oxygenation level of cells, assessed by optical imaging methods, can be used as markers of cell viability, proliferative activity and the degree of differentiation in 3D culture conditions. In this paper we used fluorescence and phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopies (FLIM and PLIM) to study the metabolic status and the oxygenation level of derived from iPSCs neural stem cells (NSC) cultured in 3D condition. An analysis of the fluorescence intensities and FLIM data showed that NSCs in monolayer and at the periphery of large spheroids have more glycolytic phenotypes, NSCs in the center of large spheroids and NSCs grouped into small spheroids have more oxidative state. For determination of the relative oxygen level in spheroids PLIM of BPTDM stained neurospheres was carried out. As it was supposed, oxygen transport in the spheroid depended on it size. In neurospheres with an average size 600 μm O2 distribution is radial, with the lowest concentration in the center. Thus, the metabolic status and oxygenation level of the NSC in the spheroid composition was assessed in a life-time and noninvasive manner.

Significance: Despite the importance of the cell membrane in regulation of drug activity, the influence of drug treatments on its physical properties is still poorly understood. The combination of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) with specific viscosity-sensitive fluorescent molecular rotors allows the quantification of membrane viscosity with high spatiotemporal resolution, down to the individual cell organelles. Aim: The aim of our work was to analyze microviscosity of the plasma membrane of living cancer cells during chemotherapy with cisplatin using FLIM and correlate the observed changes with lipid composition and cell’s response to treatment. Approach: FLIM together with viscosity-sensitive boron dipyrromethene-based fluorescent molecular rotor was used to map the fluidity of the cell’s membrane. Chemical analysis of membrane lipid composition was performed with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Results: We detected a significant steady increase in membrane viscosity in viable cancer cells, both in cell monolayers and tumor spheroids, upon prolonged treatment with cisplatin, as well as in cisplatin-adapted cell line. ToF-SIMS revealed correlative changes in lipid profile of cisplatin-treated cells. Conclusions: These results suggest an involvement of membrane viscosity in the cell adaptation to the drug and in the acquisition of drug resistance.

Genetically encoded photosensitizers are a unique instrument for investigation of cellular mechanisms of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Fluorescent flavoprotein miniSOG (mini Singlet Oxygen Generator) generates singlet oxygen with a high yield and demonstrates strong phototoxic properties in vitro in cancer cells. However, the effective approaches for PDT with miniSOG have not been developed so far. The purpose of the study is to investigate phototoxic effects of miniSOG induced by continuous wave (CW) or pulsed laser irradiation in tumor spheroids. We found that maximum photobleaching of miniSOG without temperature effects was achieved at 120 mW/cm2 in CW mode or pulse periodic mode. PDT in pulse periodic mode provided more pronounced increase in the number of dead cells in comparison with CW mode and, moreover, induced apoptosis more efficiently. Therefore, we report for the first time on an effective regimen for PDT with miniSOG in a tumor spheroid model using pulsed periodic laser irradiation.

Non-invasive optical techniques on the basis of quenching of phosphorescence by molecular oxygen represent a powerful tool to perform mapping of oxygen content in biological systems. The development of phosphorescent oxygensensitive probes suitable for biological applications, especially in vivo, remains a challenging task. In this paper we applied for biological investigations one novel and one previously published Ir(III)-based complexes. This complexes demonstrate low cytotoxicity at the concentrations ≤70 μM and good uptake by cultured cancer cells. Both compounds were primarily located within the cytoplasm. Using TCSPC-based phosphorescence lifetime macro-imaging in vivo, we found that IR-2 complex shows detectable phosphorescence in tumor tissue in mice upon local injection. These results illustrate the high potential of organometallic complexes under study for mapping of oxygen level in cells and tissues.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is increasingly recognized as a valuable approach for its ability not only to assess structural information, but also to follow certain biochemical processes in living organisms. Particularly, a measurement of fluorescence lifetimes of endogenous cofactors reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) NAD(P)H and oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide FAD and flavin mononucleotide FMN provides insight into cellular metabolism on a label-free basis. NAD(P)H and flavin cofactors are primarily involved in cellular bioenergetics pathways, in which they participate in the states with distinct fluorescence lifetimes. In recent years, metabolic FLIM has received increased attention in cancer studies. On the one hand, metabolic abnormalities that support the higher proliferative rate of cancer cells may serve as a basis for new diagnostic methods and targeted therapies. On the other hand, detection of early metabolic changes in response to anticancer therapy is a new way to personalized medicine. Currently available FLIM systems allow metabolic visualization from a micro- to a macroscopic scale with excellent spatial resolution and high molecular specificity. This chapter describes three main techniques on the basis of fluorescence time-resolved measurements—microscopic, spectroscopic, and macroscopic, and provides multiple examples of their applications in probing metabolism in cancer.

Although chemotherapy remains one of the main types of treatment for cancer, treatment failure is a frequent occurrence, emphasizing the need for new approaches to the early assessment of tumor response. The aim of this study was to search for indicators based on optical imaging of cellular metabolism and of collagen in tumors in vivo that enable evaluation of their response to chemotherapy. The study was performed on a mouse colorectal cancer model with the use of cisplatin, paclitaxel, and irinotecan. The metabolic activity of the tumor cells was assessed using fluorescence lifetime imaging of the metabolic cofactor reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate), NAD(P)H. Second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging was used to analyze the extent and properties of collagen within the tumors. We detected an early decrease in the free/bound NAD(P)H ratio in all treated tumors, indicating a shift toward a more oxidative metabolism. Monitoring of collagen showed an early increase in the amount of collagen followed by an increase in the extent of its orientation in tumors treated with cisplatin and paclitaxel, and decrease in collagen content in the case of irinotecan. Our study suggests that changes in cellular metabolism and fibrotic stroma organization precede morphological alterations and tumor size reduction, and that this indicates that NAD(P)H and collagen can be considered as intrinsic indicators of the response to treatment. This is the first time that these parameters have been investigated in tumors in vivo in the course of chemotherapy with drugs having different mechanisms of action. © 2018 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

Background Despite the significant progress in the development of skin equivalents (SEs), the problem of noninvasively assessing the quality of the cell components and the collagen structure of living SEs both before and after transplantation remains. Undoubted preference is given to in vivo methods of noninvasive, label-free monitoring of the state of the SEs. Optical bioimaging methods, such as cross-polarization optical coherence tomography (CP OCT), multiphoton tomography (MPT), and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), present particular advantages for the visualization of such SEs. Methods In this study, we simultaneously applied several visualization techniques for skin model examination. We investigated the structure and quality of dermal equivalents containing dermal papilla (DP) cells and dermal fibroblasts (FBs) using CP OCT, MPT, and FLIM. Both the energy metabolism of the cell components and the structuring of the collagen fibrils were addressed. Results Based on the data from the fluorescence lifetimes and the contributions of protein-bound NAD(P)H, a bias toward oxidative metabolism was indicated, for the first time, in both the DP cells and FBs on day 14 of SE cultivation. The CP OCT and MPT data also indicated that both DP cells and FBs structured the collagen gel in a similar manner. Conclusion In this study, multimodal label-free imaging of the structure and quality of living dermal equivalents was implemented for the first time with the use CP OCT, MPT, and FLIM of NAD(P)H. Our data suggest that the combination of different imaging techniques provides an integrated approach to data acquisition regarding the structure and quality of dermal equivalents, minimizes the potential disadvantages of using a single method, and provides an ideal information profile for clinical and research applications.

Background Therapeutic effects of PDT depend on many factors, including the amount of singlet oxygen, localization of photosensitizer and irradiation protocol. The present study was aimed to compare the cytotoxic mechanisms of PDT under continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed irradiation using a tumor spheroid model and a genetically encoded photosensitizer miniSOG. Methods 1O2 detection in miniSOG and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) solutions was performed. Photobleaching of miniSOG in solution and in HeLa tumor spheroids was analyzed. Tumor spheroid morphology and growth and the cell death mechanisms after PDT in CW and pulsed modes were assessed. Results We found a more rapid 1O2 generation and a higher photobleaching rate in miniSOG solution upon irradiation in pulsed mode compared to CW mode. Photobleaching of miniSOG in tumor spheroids was also higher after irradiation in the pulsed mode. PDT of spheroids in CW mode resulted in a moderate expansion of the necrotic core of tumor spheroids and a slight inhibition of spheroid growth. The pulsed mode was more effective in induction of cell death, including apoptosis, and suppression of spheroid growth. Conclusions Comparison of CW and pulsed irradiation modes in PDT with miniSOG showed more pronounced cytotoxic effects of the pulsed mode. Our results suggest that the pulsed irradiation regimen enables enhanced 1O2 production by photosensitizer and stimulates apoptosis. General significance Our results provide more insights into the cellular mechanisms of anti-cancer PDT and open the way to improvement of light irradiation protocols.

A complex cascade of molecular events occurs in apoptotic cells but cell-to-cell variability significantly complicates determination of the order and interconnections between different processes. For better understanding of the mechanisms of programmed cell death, dynamic simultaneous registration of several parameters is required. In this paper we used multiparameter fluorescence microscopy to analyze energy metabolism, intracellular pH and caspase-3 activation in living cancer cells in vitro during staurosporine-induced apoptosis. We performed metabolic imaging of two co-factors, NAD(P)H and FAD, and used the genetically encoded pH-indicator SypHer1 and the FRET-based sensor for caspase-3 activity, mKate2-DEVD-iRFP, to visualize these parameters by confocal fluorescence microscopy and two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. The correlation between energy metabolism, intracellular pH and caspase-3 activation and their dynamic changes were studied in CT26 cancer cells during apoptosis. Induction of apoptosis was accompanied by a switch to oxidative phosphorylation, cytosol acidification and caspase-3 activation. We showed that alterations in cytosolic pH and the activation of oxidative phosphorylation are relatively early events associated with the induction of apoptosis.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed and poorly responding to chemotherapy types of cancer, which emphasizes the importance of personalized approach to treatment selection. Short-term primary cell cultures established from patients’ tumors represent a valuable model for testing drug response. In this study, we developed protocols for generation of the short-term primary cell cultures from colorectal cancer tissue and assessment their chemosensitivity using MTT test. Additionally, we showed the possibility of metabolic analysis of patient-derived cancer cells using fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) of autofluorescent cofactor NAD(P)H. Since FLIM of NAD(P)H demonstrates the potential to detect early responses to cancer treatment, we assume that this method, alone or in combination with MTT assay, can be used for choosing the optimal chemotherapy for patients.

This paper presents ex-vivo investigation of the brain tumors, namely glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma, by macroscopic fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) of endogenous metabolic cofactor nicotine amide dinucleotide (phosphate), NAD(P)H. The results of the study on the rat models indicate that the metabolism in brain tumors differs between tumor types and differs from normal brain tissue. It was also found that the brain tumors have specific optical metabolic signatures that differ them from most solid tumors, underling the complexity of glioma metabolism. The approach used in the experiments shows prospects to determine the surgical margins of gliomas and to investigate metabolic heterogeneity of the tumors on a macroscale. However, one has to be careful in the interpretation of the data obtained by FLIM.

Fluorescent proteins in combination with fluorescence imaging technologies offer unique opportunities to explore cancer. Using new fluorescent proteins, we developed methodologies for in vivo monitoring of different functional processes in mouse tumor models and for tumor treatment.

This publisher’s note contains corrections to Opt. Lett. 46, 1217 (2021) OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.415229.

Collagen, the main non-cellular component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), is profoundly reorganized during tumorigenesis and has a strong impact on tumor behavior. The main source of collagen in tumors is cancer-associated fibroblasts. Cancer cells can also participate in the synthesis of ECM, however, the contribution of both types of cells to collagen rearrangements during the tumor progression is far from being clear. Here, we investigated the processes of collagen biosynthesis and remodeling in parallel with the transcriptome changes during cancer cells and fibroblasts interactions. Combining immunofluorescence, RNA sequencing, and second harmonic generation microscopy, we have explored the relationships between the ratio of epithelial (E) and mesenchymal (M) components of hybrid E/M cancer cells, their ability to activate fibroblasts, and the contributions of both cell types to collagen remodeling. To this end, we studied (i) co-cultures of colorectal cancer cells and normal fibroblasts in a collagen matrix, (ii) patient-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts, and (iii) mouse xenograft models. We found that the activation of normal fibroblasts that form dense collagen networks consisting of large, highly oriented fibers depends on the difference in E/M ratio in the cancer cells. The more-epithelial cells activate the fibroblasts more strongly, which correlates with a dense and highly ordered collagen structure in tumors in vivo. The more-mesenchymal cells activate the fibroblasts to a lesser degree, on the other hand, this cell line has a higher innate collagen remodeling capacity. Normal fibroblasts activated by cancer cells contribute to the organization of the extracellular matrix in a way that is favorable for migratory potency. At the same time, in co-culture with epithelial cancer cells, the contribution of fibroblasts to the reorganization of ECM is more pronounced. Therefore, one can expect that targeting the ability of epithelial cancer cells to activate normal fibroblasts may provide a new anticancer therapeutic strategy.

Although chemotherapy remains one of the main types of treatment for cancer, treatment failure is a frequent occurrence, emphasizing the need for new approaches to the early assessment of tumor response. The aim of this study was to search for indicators based on optical imaging of cellular metabolism and of collagen in tumors in vivo that enable evaluation of their response to chemotherapy. The study was performed on a mouse colorectal cancer model with the use of cisplatin, paclitaxel, and irinotecan. The metabolic activity of the tumor cells was assessed using fluorescence lifetime imaging of the metabolic cofactor reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate), NAD(P)H. Second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging was used to analyze the extent and properties of collagen within the tumors. We detected an early decrease in the free/bound NAD(P)H ratio in all treated tumors, indicating a shift toward a more oxidative metabolism. Monitoring of collagen showed an early increase in the amount of collagen followed by an increase in the extent of its orientation in tumors treated with cisplatin and paclitaxel, and decrease in collagen content in the case of irinotecan. Our study suggests that changes in cellular metabolism and fibrotic stroma organization precede morphological alterations and tumor size reduction, and that this indicates that NAD(P)H and collagen can be considered as intrinsic indicators of the response to treatment. This is the first time that these parameters have been investigated in tumors in vivo in the course of chemotherapy with drugs having different mechanisms of action. © 2018 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

This paper presents synthesis and photophysical investigation of cyclometalated water-soluble Pt(ii) and Ir(iii) complexes containing auxiliary sulfonated diphosphine (bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (dppb), P^P*) ligand. The complexes demonstrate considerable variations in excitation (extending up to 450 nm) and emission bands (with maxima ranging from

Nonlinear optical microscopy combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging is a non-invasive imaging technique, based on the study of fluorescence decay times of naturally occurring fluorescent molecules, enabling a noninvasive investigation of the biological tissue with subcellular resolution. Cancer exhibits altered cellular metabolism, which affects the autofluorescence of metabolic cofactors NAD(P)H and FAD. In this study features of tumor metabolism in different systems of organization (from cell culture to patient lesion) was showed. The observed differences in the relative contributions of free NAD(P)H and FAD testify to an increased a glycolytic metabolism in cancer cells compare to fibroblasts. In 3D spheroids, the cells of the proliferating zone had greater a1 and lower tm values than the cells of the quiescent zone, which likely is a consequence of their higher glycolytic rate. During the growth of colorectal cancer in the experimental mouse model, the contribution of the free component of NAD(P)H was increased. Dysplastic nevus and melanoma is characterized by raised contribution of free NADH compare to healthy skin. Therefore, melanoma cells had very short value of τ1.

Early response of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs were studied using novel fluorescence tools and microscopy techniques. We applied two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging (microscopy and in vivo imaging) to assess metabolic and oxygen changes in cancer cells in different tumor models. The dynamics of energy metabolism, intracellular pH, oxygen under chemotherapy were evaluated. In patients with skin neoplasia using of optical imaging, including FLIM, we have showed possibilities to distinguish benign and malignant pigmented lesions.

The parameters of the mean intensity, coherency and energy were applied for complex quantitative analysis of SHG collagen signal. Dynamics investigation of collagen structure was performed during the interaction of fibroblasts and colon cancer cells.

Background Measuring intracellular pH (pHi) in tumors is essential for the monitoring of cancer progression and the response of cancer cells to various treatments. The purpose of the study was to develop a method for pHi mapping in living cancer cells in vitro and in tumors in vivo, using the novel genetically encoded indicator, SypHer2. Methods A HeLa Kyoto cell line stably expressing SypHer2 in the cytoplasm was used, to perform ratiometric (dual excitation) imaging of the probe in cell culture, in 3D tumor spheroids and in tumor xenografts in living mice. Results Using SypHer2, pHi was demonstrated to be 7.34 ± 0.11 in monolayer HeLa cells in vitro under standard cultivation conditions. An increasing pHi gradient from the center to the periphery of the spheroids was displayed. We obtained fluorescence ratio maps for HeLa tumors in vivo and ex vivo. Comparison of the map with the pathomorphology and with hypoxia staining of the tumors revealed a correspondence of the zones with higher pHi to the necrotic and hypoxic areas. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that pHi imaging with the genetically encoded pHi indicator, SypHer2, can be a valuable tool for evaluating tumor progression in xenograft models. General significance We have demonstrated, for the first time, the possibility of using the genetically encoded sensor SypHer2 for ratiometric pH imaging in cancer cells in vitro and in tumors in vivo. SypHer2 shows great promise as an instrument for pHi monitoring able to provide high accuracy and spatiotemporal resolution.

Abnormal levels of viscosity in tissues and cells are known to be associated with disease and malfunction. While methods to measure bulk macroscopic viscosity of bio-tissues are well developed, imaging viscosity at the microscopic scale remains a challenge, especially in vivo. Molecular rotors are small synthetic viscosity-sensitive fluorophores in which fluorescence parameters are strongly correlated to the microviscosity of their immediate environment. Hence, molecular rotors represent a promising instrument for mapping of viscosity in living cells and tissues at the microscopic level. Quantitative measurements of viscosity can be achieved by recording time-resolved fluorescence decays of molecular rotor using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), which is also suitable for dynamic viscosity mapping, both in cellulo and in vivo. Among tools of experimental oncology, 3D tumour cultures, or spheroids, are considered a more adequate in vitro model compared to a cellular monolayer, and represent a less labour-intensive and more unified approach compared to animal tumour models. This chapter describes a methodology for microviscosity imaging in tumour spheroids using BODIPY-based molecular rotors and two photon-excited FLIM.

Although cisplatin plays a central role in cancer chemotherapy, the mechanisms of cell response to this drug have been unexplored. The present study demonstrates the relationships between the intracellular pH (pHi), cell bioenergetics and the response of cervical cancer to cisplatin. pHi was measured using genetically encoded sensor SypHer2 and metabolic state was accessed by fluorescence intensities and lifetimes of endogenous cofactors NAD(P)H and FAD. Our data support the notion that cisplatin induces acidification of the cytoplasm early after the treatment. We revealed in vitro that a capacity of cells to recover and maintain alkaline pHi after the initial acidification is the crucial factor in mediating the cellular decision to survive and proliferate at a vastly reduced rate or to undergo cell death. Additionally, we showed for the first time that pHi acidification occurs after prolonged therapy in vitro and in vivo, and this, likely, favors metabolic reorganization of cells. A metabolic shift from glycolysis towards oxidative metabolism accompanied the cisplatin-induced inhibition of cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Overall, these findings contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms underlying the responsiveness of an individual cell and tumor to therapy and are valuable for developing new therapeutic strategies.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is a promising non-invasive highly sensitive technique for probing multiple physiological and physicochemical parameters in living cells and tissues. The present study is focused on the investigation of bioenergetics and microscopic viscosity of cultured cancer cells and animal tumors using FLIM during natural growth and chemotherapy. Fluorescence lifetime measurements of the metabolic cofactor NAD(P)H revealed a decrease of the relative amplitude of free NAD(P)H after cisplatin treatment, indicating a change towards a more oxidative metabolic state. Microviscosity mapping performed with the use of fluorescent molecular rotor BODIPY-2 showed a pronounced increase in the plasma membrane viscosity in cancer cells exposed to cisplatin. Although biochemical mechanisms underlying the metabolic and viscosity alterations during chemotherapy have yet to be clarified, our data suggest that the cisplatin-induced changes in cellular metabolism and membrane viscosity play a role in the cytotoxicity of the drug. The results of the study contribute to an understanding of mechanisms of cisplatin action and will be useful for development new approach for assessing response to a therapy.

The study of metabolic and oxygen states of cells in a tumor in vivo is crucial for understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the tumor development and provides background for the relevant tumor’s treatment. Here, we show that a specially designed implantable fiber-optical probe provides a promising tool for optical interrogation of metabolic and oxygen states of a tumor in vivo. In our experiments, the excitation light from a ps diode laser source is delivered to the sample through an exchangeable tip via a multimode fiber, and the emission light is transferred to the detector by another multimode fiber. Fluorescence lifetime of nicotinamid adenine dinucleotide (NAD(P)H) and phosphorescence lifetime of an oxygen sensor based on iridium (III) complex of enzothienylpyridine (BTPDM1) are explored both in model experiment in solutions, and in living mice. The luminescence spectroscopy data is substantiated with immunohistochemistry experiments. To the best of our knowledge, the measurements of both metabolic status and oxygenation of tumor in vivo by fluorescence/phosphorescence lifetime spectroscopy with a fiber-optic probe are done for the first time.

The aim of the study was to estimate energy metabolism in human cervical cancer cells HeLa Kyoto after chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo using two-photon fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FLIM). Cellular metabolism was examined by monitoring of the fluorescence intensities and lifetimes of metabolic cofactors NAD(P)H and FAD. Cancer metabolism was analyzed in dynamics after treatment with cisplatin. Two-photon fluorescence and second harmonic generation microscopies as well as standard histopathology with hematoxylin and eosin were used to characterize cancer tissue structure. We showed an increase of the optical redox ratio FAD/NAD(P)H in cancer cells in vitro and decrease of the relative contribution of free NAD(P)H (ɑ1) in vitro and in vivo, which presumably indicate a shift to more oxidative metabolism after chemotherapy. These data demonstrate the possibility to detect response of cancer cells to chemotherapy using optical metabolic imaging.

Early response of cancer cells to chemical compounds and chemotherapeutic drugs were studied using novel fluorescence tools and microscopy techniques. We applied confocal microscopy, two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and super-resolution localization-based microscopy to assess structural and functional changes in cancer cells in vitro. The dynamics of energy metabolism, intracellular pH, caspase-3 activation during staurosporine-induced apoptosis as well as actin cytoskeleton rearrangements under chemotherapy were evaluated. We have showed that new genetically encoded sensors and advanced fluorescence microscopy methods provide an efficient way for multiparameter analysis of cell activities