Thermal evaluation of laser exposures in an in vitro retinal model by microthermal sensing

J Biomed Opt. 2014 Sep;19(9):97003. doi: 10.1117/1.JBO.19.9.097003.

Abstract

A temperature detection system using a micropipette thermocouple sensor was developed for use within mammalian cells during laser exposure with an 8.6-μm beam at 532 nm. We have demonstrated the capability of measuring temperatures at a single-cell level in the microscale range by inserting micropipettebased thermal sensors of size ranging from 2 to 4 μm into the membrane of a live retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell subjected to a laser beam. We setup the treatment groups of 532-nm laser-irradiated single RPE cell and in situ temperature recordings were made over time. Thermal profiles are given for representative cells experiencing damage resulting from exposures of 0.2 to 2 s. The measured maximum temperature rise for each cell ranges from 39 to 73°C; the RPE cells showed a signature of death for all the cases reported herein. In order to check the cell viability, real-time fluorescence microscopy was used to identify the transition of pigmented RPE cells between viable and damaged states due to laser exposure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects*
  • Equipment Design
  • Hot Temperature*
  • Humans
  • Lasers*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / cytology
  • Retinal Pigment Epithelium / radiation effects
  • Thermography / methods*