Erasable Fluorescence Imaging Technology Enables Continuous Tracking for Identical Living Cells

Y Yanan Peng Q Qiumei Pu L Liangqing Lu (NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control School of Tropical Medicine & The Second Affiliated Hospital International Center for Aging and Cancer Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education The First Affiliated Hospital Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China) Q Qionglin Zhou (NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control School of Tropical Medicine & The Second Affiliated Hospital International Center for Aging and Cancer Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education The First Affiliated Hospital Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China) X Xinxin Xiao (NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control School of Tropical Medicine & The Second Affiliated Hospital International Center for Aging and Cancer Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education The First Affiliated Hospital Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China) X Xiangde Lai (NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control School of Tropical Medicine & The Second Affiliated Hospital International Center for Aging and Cancer Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education The First Affiliated Hospital Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China) X Xuan Zhao B Bin Qiao Q Qiang Wu (Jiangsu Cancer Hospital Nanjing China)

Abstract

Abstract Subtle molecular events may trigger a cascade of “butterfly effects” to reverse cell fate, so dynamic tracking of relevant markers can provide crucial clues to decipher the unknown. However, existing analytical techniques are still at static‐analysis level, and cutting‐edge fluorescence imaging is limited by signal interference at adjacent time, failing to realize continuous observation for identical live cells. Herein, we develop a new temperature‐controlled imaging technology, where melamine‐mediated reversible DNA self‐assembly drives the fluorescence illuminating and extinguishing at any time, achieving repeated erasable imaging for identical living cells. This method can track cell behaviors by taking dynamic monitoring of cell differentiation as an example, and timely fluorescence erasing guarantees authenticity for imaging results and minimizes interference with cellular activities. Thanks to high feasibility in fundamental experimental scenarios, this method hopefully provides a powerful preliminary screening tool for exploring new biological mechanisms in cell interactions, developmental transformations, downstream response inquiry, and so forth.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 25
Published June 17, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

Y

Yanan Peng

Q

Qiumei Pu

L

Liangqing Lu

NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control School of Tropical Medicine & The Second Affiliated Hospital International Center for Aging and Cancer Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education The First Affiliated Hospital Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China

Q

Qionglin Zhou

NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control School of Tropical Medicine & The Second Affiliated Hospital International Center for Aging and Cancer Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education The First Affiliated Hospital Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China

X

Xinxin Xiao

NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control School of Tropical Medicine & The Second Affiliated Hospital International Center for Aging and Cancer Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education The First Affiliated Hospital Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China

X

Xiangde Lai

NHC Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control School of Tropical Medicine & The Second Affiliated Hospital International Center for Aging and Cancer Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education The First Affiliated Hospital Hainan Academy of Medical Sciences Hainan Medical University Haikou 571199 China

X

Xuan Zhao

B

Bin Qiao

Q

Qiang Wu

Jiangsu Cancer Hospital Nanjing China