Oxygen imaging of biological cells and tissues is becoming increasingly important in cell biology and in the pathophysiology of various hypoxia-related diseases. The optical oxygen-sensing method using luminescent probes provides very useful, high spatial resolution information regarding oxygen distribution in living cells and tissues. This review focuses on recent advances in biological oxygen measurements based on the phosphorescence quenching of probe molecules by oxygen, and on hypoxia-sensitive fluorescent probes. Special attention is devoted to metal complex probes, Pt(II)- and Pd(II)-porphyrins, Ru(II) complexes, and Ir(III) complexes. Current knowledge regarding the mechanism of phosphorescence quenching of metal complexes by oxygen is described in relation to the oxygen sensitivity of the probes, and recent advances in optical oxygen probes and detection techniques for intracellular and tissue oxygen measurements are reviewed, emphasizing the usefulness of chemical modifications for improving probe properties. Tissue oxygen imaging and hypoxic tumor imaging using these metal complex probes demonstrate the vast potential of optical oxygen-sensing methods using luminescent probes.

生物细胞和组织的氧成像在细胞生物学和各种低氧相关疾病的病理生理中变得越来越重要。使用发光探针的光学氧气传感方法提供了有关活细胞和组织中氧气分布的非常有用的高空间分辨率信息。这篇综述集中在基于氧气对探针分子的磷光淬灭以及对缺氧敏感的荧光探针的生物氧测量方面的最新进展。特别注意金属络合物探针，Pt（II）-和Pd（II）-卟啉，Ru（II）络合物和Ir（III）络合物。有关探头对氧气的敏感性，描述了有关氧对金属络合物进行磷光猝灭机理的最新知识，回顾了光学氧探头和用于细胞内和组织氧测量的检测技术的最新进展，强调了化学修饰对改善探头性能的有用性。使用这些金属配合物探针的组织​​氧成像和低氧肿瘤成像证明了使用发光探针的光学氧传感方法的巨大潜力。