Real Time and Spatiotemporal Quantification of pH and H2O2 Imbalances with a Multiplex Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Nanosensor

Oxidative stress is involved in many aging-related pathological disorders and is the result of defective cellular management of redox reactions. Particularly, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), is a major byproduct and a common oxidative stress biomarker. Monitoring its dynamics and a direct correlation to diseases remains a challenge due to the complexity of redox reactions. Sensitivity and specificity are major drawbacks for H2O2 sensors regardless of their readout. Luminiscent boronate-based probes such as 3-mercaptophenylboronic acid (3-MPBA) are emerging as the most effective quantitation tool due to their specificity and sensitivity. Problems associated with these probes are limited intracellular sensing, water solubility, selectivity, and quenching. We have synthesized a boronate-based nanosensor with a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) readout to solve these challenges. Furthermore, we found out that environmental pH gradients, as found in biological samples, affect the sensitivity of boronate-based sensors. When the sensor is in an alkaline environment, the oxidation of 3-MPBA by H2O2 is more favored than in an acidic environment. This leads to different H2O2 measurements depending on pH. To solve this issue, we synthesized a multiplex nanosensor capable of concomitantly quantifying pH and H2O2. Our nanosensor first measures the local pH and based on this value, provides the amount of H2O2. It seems that this pH-dependent sensitivity effect applies to all boronic acid based probes. We tested the multiplexing ability by quantitatively measuring intra- and extracellular pH and H2O2 dynamics under physiological and pathological conditions on healthy cells and cells in which H+ and/or H2O2 homeostasis has been altered.

Automated summary

Oxidative stress, caused by defective cellular management of redox reactions, plays a role in aging-related pathological disorders. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a common biomarker for oxidative stress, but it is challenging to monitor its dynamics and correlation with diseases due to the complexity of redox reactions. Luminiscent boronate-based probes show promise as effective quantitation tools due to their specificity and sensitivity. However, limitations in intracellular sensing, water solubility, selectivity, and quenching exist. A boronate-based nanosensor with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) readout has been synthesized to overcome these challenges. Additionally, a pH-dependent sensitivity effect has been observed, leading to different H2O2 measurements based on pH. To address this issue, a multiplex nanosensor capable of simultaneously quantifying pH and H2O2 has been developed and tested on healthy cells and cells with altered H+ and/or H2O2 homeostasis.