Observing life by illuminating biological processes

Scientists at the CNRS have developed a new family of metallacrowns. These biological imaging agents label living cells for visualisation without the need for UV excitation, a limitation that previously restricted their use due to the damaging effects of UVs on tissues. By encapsulating luminescent metal ions, these crown-shaped chemical structures incorporate coumarins and enable direct, non-invasive observation of both superficial and deep tissues. Published in Chemical Science, this discovery expands the scope of non-invasive imaging, both in vitro and in vivo. In the same vein, chemical biology explores molecules capable of illuminating, visualising, or controlling biological processes by selectively attaching "chemical tags" to specific biomolecules and marking them, for example, with fluorescence. In an article published in ChemBioChem, a team from Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle (CNRS / Lille University) proposes an artistic exploration of this field. Hence, "Chembioart" transforms molecules into works of art.