Intrinsic optical signal imaging of a ratiometric fluorescence oxygen nanosensor

Several imaging techniques and methods have been developed to map the metabolic or electrical changes during brain functions in high spatial and temporal resolutions. Wide-field intrinsic optical signal (IOS) imaging is an excellent method for its spatial resolution of 50-100 /spl mu/m and a wide imaging field of several mm/sup 2/ that cannot be achieved by any microscope. A nano-encapsulated fluorescence dye sensor that is specifically sensitive to oxygen level was fabricated. The fluorescence images of the nanosensor were collected by a wide-field IOS imaging system under two different oxygen concentrations and analyzed by MATLAB software for the nanosensor's oxygen quenching property.