Upconverting Nanoparticles as In Vivo and In Situ Optical Electric Field Sensors

This nanoparticle platform for electric field detection is the first inorganic platform to use both intensity and spectro-ratiometric (relative color change) readout for the determination of local electric fields in vitro, in vivo, and in situ. These nanoparticles can be incorporated into the system either through natural uptake (e.g. digestion or absorption) or artificial introduction (e.g. injection, electroporation). By combining upconverting lanthanide ions with piezoelectric hosts and/or voltage responsive dyes, the generated optical platform displays intensity and spectrum changes in the presence of electric fields. These particles enable local (down to 10 nm spatial resolution) mapping of electric fields with exceptional photostability. This invention can image and quantify in vivo and in situ electric fields in biological and material systems up to fields of ~100 kV/cm. Feasibility studies demonstrate that this platform is more robust as compared to other optical technologies for voltage sensing which are limited by photodegradation, poor SNR, toxicity, and weak stimuli response.

Stage of Research