Chemically imaging living cells by scanning electrochemical microscopy

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is useful in probing and characterizing interfaces at high resolution. In this paper, the general principles of this technique are described and several applications of SECM to biological systems, particularly to living cells, is discussed, along with several example systems. Thiodione was detected and monitored electrochemically during the treatment of hepatocytes with cytotoxic menadione. The antimicrobial effects of silver(I) was followed by SECM through bacterial respiration. Living HeLa cells were shown to accumulate ferrocencemethanol (FcMeOH) and generated positive feedback for FcMeOH oxidation that can be further used to monitor the cell viability. Finally, individual giant liposomes, as cell models, with encapsulated redox compounds were successfully probed by SECM. In general SECM has the advantage of very high spatial resolution and versatility, especially for the detection of electroactive substances.