Probing living cells permeabilization dynamics by terahertz attenuated total reflection

Guilhem Gallot (1)

1 LOB - Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences

Using attenuated total reflection (ATR) in the terahertz domain, we demonstrate non-invasive, non-staining real time measurements of cytoplasm leakage during permeabilization of live epithelial cells by saponin detergent and after electropermeabilization. The origin of the contrast observed between cells and culture medium is addressed by both experimental and theoretical approaches, and gives access to permeabilization dynamics of live cells in real time. We show that terahertz modalities are more sensitive than fluorescence microscopy which is the reference optical technique for electropermeabilization. We propose analytical models for the influx and efflux of non-permeant molecules through permeabilized cell membranes.

Keywords: Terahertz; ATR; cell membrane permeabilization; detergent; electropermeabilization

Domains: Optics [physics.optics]; Biological Physics [physics.bio-ph]

Guilhem Gallot. Probing living cells permeabilization dynamics by terahertz attenuated total reflection. Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering, 2021, Terahertz Emitters, Receivers, and Applications XII, ⟨10.1117/12.2596166⟩. ⟨hal-03871187⟩