Plasmonic Colloidosome-Based Single Cell Detector: A Strategy for Individual Cell Secretion Sensing

Anal Chem. 2019 Feb 5;91(3):2260-2265. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.8b04850. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Abstract

Phenotyping single cells based on molecules that they secrete or consume is a key bottleneck in many biotechnology applications. Here, we demonstrate a new approach for detecting secretions from individual single cells, namely, plasmonic colloidosome-based single cell detector (PCSD). This strategy uses colloidosomes to encapsulate single cells and aid molecular detection. Colloidosomes are constructed by emulsifying lactate probe and hydrophobic ligand dual-functionalized silver nanoparticles on an immiscible liquid-liquid interface. The established colloidosome-based platform exhibits negligible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) background interference, ultrasensitive SERS response, and excellent signal reproducibility in response to acidification of the medium inside the colloidosomes. Taking lactate as a model molecule, the acidification induced by single cells confined in the colloidosomes is detected. The approach shows promising applicability in single cell analysis based on extracellular metabolites production or consumption.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Benzoates / chemistry
  • Benzoates / toxicity
  • Colloids / chemistry*
  • Emulsions / chemistry
  • Fluorocarbons / chemistry
  • Fluorocarbons / toxicity
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / toxicity
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Silver / toxicity
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / toxicity

Substances

  • Benzoates
  • Colloids
  • Emulsions
  • Fluorocarbons
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • 4-mercaptobenzoate
  • Silver