A Chromatic Nanoswitcher for Thermal Monitoring of Cell Metabolism
Zhang, Fengchan (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
París Ogáyar, Marina (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
Artiga, Álvaro (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
Hernando Campos, Jordi (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Villar-Alvarez, Eva (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Lorenzo Rivera, Julia (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Bioquímica i de Biologia Molecular)
Salegi Ansa, Beñat (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
Cogliati, Sara (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
Formentini, Laura (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
Haro-González, Patricia (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
Ruiz-Molina, Daniel (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Otaegui, Jaume Ramon (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Química)
Roscini, Claudio (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Jaque, Daniel (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Accurate sensing of intracellular temperature is crucial for understanding and monitoring cell metabolism, serving as an initial step toward diagnosing conditions such as mitochondria-related diseases. However, thermal monitoring of cell metabolism is challenging due to the minimal temperature variations caused by intracellular metabolic activity (typically ≈1 °C) and by the risk of crosstalk in intracellular sensors. A novel type of intracellular thermal sensor is presented, based on silica nanocapsules filled with a thermo-responsive fluorescent medium. This medium undergoes a reversible phase transition from solid to liquid at temperatures ≈37 °C, inducing a chromatic switch that facilitates remote thermal sensing. The chromatic switchers exhibit a thermal sensitivity of ≈13% °C⁻¹ at 37 °C, one of the highest reported for intracellular thermal sensing. Notably, the thermal response is unaffected by external factors such as pH, ionic strength, and viscosity. Moreover, it is confirmed that the response of the sensors is not affected by the cellular activity, underscoring their reliability for cytoplasmic temperature measurements. The potential of these sensors is demonstrated by measuring intracellular heating during the metabolic switch from mitochondrial to glycolytic activity, showcasing their potential for real-time, precise thermal monitoring (<1 °C) of cell metabolism.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2021-127983OB-C21 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2021-127983OB-C22 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2022-141293OB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación TED2021-129937B-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación CNS2022-135495 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2023-151078OB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación ID2023-146775OB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación CEX2021-001214-S Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2021/SGR-00064 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2022-136738OB-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-114054RA-I00 Agencia Estatal de Investigación CNS2023-143646 Agencia Estatal de Investigación FPU20/03166 Agencia Estatal de Investigación FJC2021-047006-I Agencia Estatal de Investigación FPU2022/00218
Rights:	Aquest material està protegit per drets d'autor i/o drets afins. Podeu utilitzar aquest material en funció del que permet la legislació de drets d'autor i drets afins d'aplicació al vostre cas. Per a d'altres usos heu d'obtenir permís del(s) titular(s) de drets.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Nanothermometry ; Intracellular temperature ; Phase change material ; Silica nanocapsules ; Cellular metabolism
Published in:	Advanced functional materials, (2025) , ISSN 1616-3028

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202418813

Available from: 2026-01-31 Postprint

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles