Confocal Raman Microscopy for pH-Gradient Preconcentration and Quantitative Analyte Detection in Optically-trapped Phospholipid Vesicles

Chris D. Hardcastle and Joel M. Harris

The ability of a vesicle membrane to preserve a pH gradient, while allowing for diffusion of neutral molecules across the phospholipid bilayer, can provide the isolation and preconcentration of ionizable compounds within the vesicle interior. In this work, confocal-Raman microscopy is used to observe (in situ) the pH-gradient preconcentration of compounds into individual optically-trapped vesicles that provide sub-femtoliter collectors for small-volume samples. The concentration of analyte accumulated in the vesicle interior is determined relative to a perchlorate-ion internal standard, preloaded into the vesicle along with a high-concentration buffer. As a guide to the experiments, a model for the transfer of analyte into the vesicle based on acid-base equilibria is developed to predict the concentration enrichment as a function of source-phase pH and analyte concentration. To test the concept, the accumulation of benzyldimethylamine (BDMA) was measured within individual 1-µm phospholipid vesicles having a stable initial pH that is 7 units lower than the source phase. For low analyte concentrations in the source phase (100 nM), a concentration enrichment into the vesicle interior of (5.2 ± 0.4) x 105 was observed, in agreement with the model predictions. Detection of BDMA from a 25-nM source-phase sample was demonstrated, a noteworthy result for an unenhanced Raman scattering measurement. The developed model accurately predicts the fall-off of enrichment (and measurement sensitivity) at higher analyte concentrations, where the transfer of greater amounts of BDMA into the vesicle titrates the internal buffer and decreases the pH gradient. The predictable calibration response over 4-orders-of-magnitude in source-phase concentration makes it suitable for quantitative analysis of ionizable compounds from small volume samples. The kinetics of analyte accumulation are relatively fast (~15 min) and are consistent with the rate of transfer of a polar aromatic molecule across a gel-phase phospholipid membrane.

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