Multiplexed live-cell profiling with Raman probes

Nat Commun. 2021 Jun 7;12(1):3405. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23700-0.

Abstract

Single-cell multiparameter measurement has been increasingly recognized as a key technology toward systematic understandings of complex molecular and cellular functions in biological systems. Despite extensive efforts in analytical techniques, it is still generally challenging for existing methods to decipher a large number of phenotypes in a single living cell. Herein we devise a multiplexed Raman probe panel with sharp and mutually resolvable Raman peaks to simultaneously quantify cell surface proteins, endocytosis activities, and metabolic dynamics of an individual live cell. When coupling it to whole-cell spontaneous Raman micro-spectroscopy, we demonstrate the utility of this technique in 14-plexed live-cell profiling and phenotyping under various drug perturbations. In particular, single-cell multiparameter measurement enables powerful clustering, correlation, and network analysis with biological insights. This profiling platform is compatible with live-cell cytometry, of low instrument complexity and capable of highly multiplexed measurement in a robust and straightforward manner, thereby contributing a valuable tool for both basic single-cell biology and translation applications such as high-content cell sorting and drug discovery.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Separation / methods*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Drug Discovery / methods
  • Endocytosis / drug effects
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Intravital Microscopy / methods*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Nonlinear Optical Microscopy / methods*
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods*

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins