Life Science

High resolution imaging of protein structures

Time-resolved imaging of amyloid structures in living tissue at submicron resolution

(A-C) Single-frequency O-PTIR maps of the same spot in living brain tissue at time 0 and time 10 min.

(A) Change of β-sheet structure distribution over time, calculated as a ratio of 1630 cm^–1 (the main β-sheet band) to 1656 cm^–1 signal (Amide I maximum). Lower panel, white arrows indicate newly formed β-sheet structures.

(B) Change of distribution of fibrillar β-sheet structures over time, calculated as a ratio of 1680 cm^–1 (antiparallel β-sheets) to 1656 cm^–1 intensity. Lower panel, white arrows indicate newly formed antiparallel β-sheets.

(C) Change in lipid oxidation over time, calculated as a ratio of 1740 cm^–1 (R-CO-OR groups) to 1656 cm^–1 intensity. Lower panel, white arrows indicate new spots of lipid oxidation. (D) Overlay of (A-C) single-frequency IR maps, white arrows indicate colocalization of newly formed antiparallel β-sheets and oxidized lipids. The scale bar is the same for (A-D).

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 45, 24796–24808. Open Access

Protein specific imaging with O-PTIR and co-located Fluorescence microscopy

Imaging amyloid plaques in brain tissue by FL-OPTIR.
(a) Fluorescent image of brain tissue with amyloid plaques labeled with Amytracker S20, overview.
(b) Zoom on to the amyloid plaque stained with Amytracker.
(c) O-PTIR Map demonstrating the distribution of β-sheet structures as a ratio of the bands at 1630–1656 cm⁻¹ in the plaque shown in panel (b).
(d) Averaged and normalized FL-OPTIR spectra were recorded from the outside, core, and plaque corona; the spectra locations were indicated by the markers of the corresponding color on the inset.
(e) Comparison of representative IR spectra on brain tissue (black) and Amytracker fluorescent dye (red). Error bars in panels (d) and (e) represent standard deviation.

New Insights into β-Sheet Structures and Carotenoid Associations in Alzheimer’s Disease

Amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation drives Alzheimer’s disease, yet understanding the chemistry of amyloid plaques remains challenging. This study uses Raman microspectroscopy to identify carotenoids in plaques and reveal their correlation with β-sheet-rich protein structures.

Optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy confirms these findings, showing elevated β-sheets in carotenoid-containing plaques but not in noncarotenoid plaques. These results suggest a link between anti-inflammatory carotenoids and specific secondary structural motifs in Aβ plaques, highlighting their potential role in neuroinflammation.

The study provides new insights into chemically distinct plaques and may inform therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease.

Webinars

Life Science

Alzheimer’s Disease Research with Sub-micron Simultaneous IR+Raman: Co-localization of Beta-Sheets and Carotenoids in Aggregates

Two-part webinar to learn how submicron IR (O-PTIR) and Raman has been applied to characterize the co-localization of amyloid β aggregates with carotenoids in human brain tissues to help better understand Alzheimer’s Disease progression.

Life Science

Life science applications using novel submicron simultaneous IR and Raman microscopy – A new paradigm in vibrational spectroscopy

Professor Ji-Xin Cheng of Boston University Photonics Center, author of over 230 peer-reviewed papers, co-inventor of CARS microscopy and pioneer in the field of O-PTIR applied to life science systems, in conjunction with Dr Mustafa Kansiz, Director of Product Management at PSC are proud to present this webinar.

Life Science

Amyloid aggregates in neurons – Life science applications using submicron simultaneous IR and Raman microscopy

Dr Oxana Klementieva and co-workers identifying amyloid-beta aggregates directly in neurons (neurites an dendritic spines) at the subcellular (submicron) level using Optical Photothermal Infrared (O-PTIR) imaging (mIRage submicron Infrared Microscope).

Life Science

Collagen orientation, fiber to submicron fibril life science applications of O-PTIR, from tissues to single cells and bacteria

In this webinar, we will show how, submicron simultaneous Optical-Photothermal IR (O-PTIR) spectroscopy and Raman microscopy (IR+Raman) is being used and published in life science applications, from tissues, to cells and even single bacterial cells.

Life Science

Single and intra-cell bacterial IR spectroscopy

Life science applications of O-PTIR, from tissues to live cells and single cell bacteria. In this webinar, we will show how submicron simultaneous Optical-Photothermal IR (O-PTIR) spectroscopy and Raman microscopy (IR+Raman) is being used and published in life science applications, from tissues, to cells and even single bacterial cells.

Life Science

Live single cell analysis with simultaneous submicron IR+Raman spectroscopy

In this webinar, Prof Peter Gardner (Manchester University, UK) will present results from their recent and first published study on live (and fixed) cell analysis with simultaneous submicron IR+Raman microscopy with wide spectral coverage using two pump lasers (QCL and OPO).

Need more information?

Discover how O-PTIR technology can elevate your research or help solve your toughest challenges. Our team are happy to assist and answer your questions.