Development of an electrochemiluminescence microscopy to visualise biomembrane functions

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20551
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0502:Inorganic/coordination chemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic materials chemistry, energy-related chemistry, and related fields
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: Hiramoto Kaoru 東北大学, 学際科学フロンティア研究所, 助教 (40963038)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 電気化学発光 / 脂質二分子膜 / イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, a system for imaging the formation of lipid bilayers using electrochemiluminescence microscopy was constructed. Phospholipids were deposited on a flat electrode, and surface observation by electrochemiluminescence of ruthenium-bipyridine complexes and tripropylamine through the lipid bilayer was observed. The voltage-dependent luminescence could be observed repeatedly even after multiple voltage sweeps, which may be due to the redox reaction of the ruthenium complex. Furthermore, when the constituent lipids were changed to anionic, neutral or cationic, the potential at which luminescence occurred also shifted to the oxidative side, suggesting that the electrostatic interaction between the ruthenium complex and the lipid membrane altered the appearance of the lipid membrane. Thorough the study, a novel label-free lipid membrane imaging system was constructed.

Free Research Field

電気化学分析

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

支持脂質二分子膜は細胞膜を人工的に基板上に再構成したものであり、生命・病理に関わる細胞膜の機能を解明するための有望な分子モデル系として認識されている。生体膜の重要な要素として電気容量や抵抗が挙げられるが、これらの電気的特性を計測する手法はあるものの同時に脂質膜の平面空間情報膜を得ることは困難なため、膜機能のより深い理解と幅広い応用が制限されてきた。本研究では膜表面を電気化学的に直接観察する新たな手法として電気化学発光顕微鏡を開発し、電圧依存的に変化する発光検出システムを構築した。本研究成果により脂質膜の物理化学的特性評価と表面観察が同時に行えるようになり、生体膜研究の推進が期待できる。