Label-free thermal biology with advanced spectroscopy techniques

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H00125
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 13:Condensed matter physics and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Ideguchi Takuro 東京大学, 大学院理学系研究科(理学部), 准教授 (30735999)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 温度生物学 / 光計測

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A new label-free measurement technique was developed to quantify the heat diffusion within cells and temperature changes during photothermal heating. Measurements were performed on living cells, yielding results different from those obtained using fluorescent temperature probes. The label-free measurements revealed that the thermal diffusivity inside the cell is about 93-94% relative to water, suggesting that water molecules are primarily responsible for heat diffusion within the cell. Furthermore, in the measurement of temperature changes due to photothermal heating on a second scale, a varying temperature rise over several degrees was observed when using fluorescent probes, while the temperature rise was constant in label-free measurements. These results suggest that fluorescent temperature probes may be influenced by changes in internal energy other than the thermal energy determined by temperature.

Free Research Field

光科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

温度が生命活動にとって重要な役割を果たしていることは個体レベルでは明らかであるが、一細胞レベルでどのような役割を果たしているのかは分かっていない。本研究で得られた成果は細胞を対象にした温度生物学という基礎研究分野に新たな知見をもたらすものである。また、温度を切り口とした生命の理解や医療への応用などにつながるという意義を持つ。