Chemical imaging in complex biological systems

In this episode of AnaEE-ERIC’s TechUp webinar series, we do a deep dive into Chemical imaging. “Seeing is believing,” as the saying goes. Unfortunately, our vision—our built-in sensor—is limited when it comes to observing chemical species in real time. This is why we need tools to extend our perception. Optical chemical sensors, known as optodes, are in many ways—at least in my opinion—the perfect tools for this purpose. In this contribution, I will highlight our recent advances in the field and discuss possible future directions.

With the ambition to better understand complex systems and untangle the connections between the biotic and abiotic world, my goal is to develop optodes that are truly fit for purpose. For example, we recently developed the first field-deployable chemical imaging system capable of mapping chemical parameters in soil (e.g., O₂ and pH); MARTINIS [1].

MARTINIS was tested in the field for several months and performed well, producing high-resolution (~100 µm) chemical maps from belowground soil. In addition, we have begun using O₂-sensitive particles in combination with particle image velocimetry, leading to the development of a method called SensPIV. SensPIV tracks individual particles using fast imaging approaches, enabling the visualization of flow fields [2]. At the same time, the O₂-sensitive luminescence of these particles allows, for the first time, simultaneous measurements of both flow and O₂ concentrations. This represents a significant step forward in understanding how organisms exchange nutrients and interact with their surrounding environment.

These examples illustrate how chemical imaging can deepen our understanding of complex biological systems. As I will discuss in this presentation, this may only be the beginning.