Fluorescent probe dyes for metabolic-ion sensing under high hydrostatic pressures.
Fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy imaging are widely used at ambient pressure for analytical studies on biological systems. Before using fluorescence-based methods at high pressures, biochemical and metabolic probes need to be characterized under pressure to ensure valid quantitative results. In this review, we describe the principles behind the use of fluorescent probe dyes for ion sensing and provide models for interpreting the dye spectrum under pressure. We then review results from three studies using the excited-state emission from probe dyes sensitive to pH and calcium-ion concentration, demonstrating some ways pressure may affect probe operation.