Glucose Probes

Glucose probes are analogues of deoxyglucose and have intracellular metabolism similar to glucose transporters (GLUTs), with competitive inhibition between the two. The glucose probe can be used as a tracer for glucose metabolism in cells. Compared with isotope tracers, glucose probes have no radiation damage, convenient detection and high resolution. When the glucose probe is absorbed by the cell, the fluorescence intensity reflects the glucose uptake. Using glucose probes to measure glucose uptake capacity is also one of the indicators for judging cell viability. Glucose probes can also be used to evaluate and screen drugs for glucose metabolism diseases.

Characteristics of Glucose Probes

Glucose probes can be used as tracers of cellular glucose metabolism. Glucose probes enter cells through glycogen transporters and are subsequently phosphorylated by hexokinase and retained in cells. When glucose probes are rapidly absorbed into cells, the degree of uptake is positively correlated with incubation concentration within a certain range. Flow cytometry can detect the fluorescence of cells, and the fluorescence intensity within a certain time reflects the glucose content.

Application of Glucose Probes

Glucose probes are often used to directly monitor glucose uptake by living cells and tissues to determine cell viability, and can also be used as local contrast agents to monitor tumor formation. Glucose probes can be used on a variety of in vitro cells, such as HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells, L6 rat skeletal muscle cells, McF-7 breast cancer epithelial cells and astrocytes, as well as in disease models, epileptic rats, hyperglycemia, diabetes, or mouse xenograft tumor models.