US 5,631,141 A · High resolution biosensor for in-situ microthermometry

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method for use of a biosensor for in-situ microthermometry. This biosensor is a substantially spherical vesicle impregnated with a dopant which varies its optical emission spectrum as a function of the local environmental temperature of the biosensor in the temperature range to be observed. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this dopant is the fluorescent dye 6-dodecanoyl-2-dimethylamino-naphthalene (Laurdan.TM.). This method for in-situ measurement of temperature in a biological system uses such a vesicle by introduction of the vesicle into the biological system to be measured and manipulation of the vesicle to the location where temperature is to be measured. The temperature is then calculated from the optically measured generalized polarization at that location and the known relationship between temperature and generalized polarization for the membrane of the vesicle.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method for high resolution in-situ measurement of temperature at a location within an aqueous biological system comprising:

(a) selecting a vesicle comprising a phospholipid membrane impregnated with an environmentally sensitive fluorescent dye, said membrane having a transition temperature at which said membrane undergoes a phase transition between gel and liquid-crystalline states chosen to be in predetermined relationship to the anticipated temperature range of the system to be measured, said membrane having a known relationship between generalized polarization and temperature, generalized polarization being the ratio (IG-IL)/(IG+IL) of the difference to the sums of the intensities measured at the maximum emission wavelengths in the gel (IG) and liquid-crystalline (IL) phases;
(b) introducing said vesicle into the biological system to be measured;
(c) manipulating said vesicle to the location where temperature is to be measured;
(d) optically measuring the generalized polarization of said vesicle;
and
(e) calculating a value for the temperature of said system from said generalized polarization measured and said known relationship between temperature and generalized polarization for said membrane of said vesicle.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High resolution biosensor for in-situ microthermometry

Life of this patent

High resolution biosensor for in-situ microthermometry

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8