Speaker
Description
Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) are critical secondary messengers in T cells, governing activation, gene expression, and effector functions. Precisely manipulating intracellular Ca²⁺ levels is a powerful but challenging approach for studying immunology and developing therapies for immune-related diseases.
We utilised the unique photothermal properties of gold nanostars (AuNSs), which were internalised by Jurkat T cells. Upon irradiation with a laser tuned to the AuNSs' absorption peak, the nanoparticles converted light to heat, inducing a localised temperature increase.
This photothermal stimulus triggered a rapid and significant release of intracellular Ca²⁺. Real-time live-cell imaging using a Ca²⁺-binding fluorophore revealed a distinct fluorescence peak corresponding to the laser stimulus. Co-localisation studies indicated that the initial Ca²⁺ microdomains originated from lysosomal stores, subsequently amplifying into a global cellular signal.
We demonstrate a novel, non-invasive method for the precise spatiotemporal control of Ca²⁺ signalling in T cells using photothermal nanoparticles. This technique provides a valuable tool for probing fundamental immunology and has promising therapeutic potential for modulating immune responses in cancer, autoimmunity, and inflammation.
