title: Alexa Fluor 488 as an iron sensing molecule and its application in PEBBLE nanosensors.
abstract: Molecular Probes' Alexa Fluor dyes are generally used for biological labeling because of their ideal fluorescent properties, but here we detail Alexa Fluor 488's nanomolar sensitivity to free iron. Furthermore, the dye has been encapsulated into a polymer nanosphere by a microemulsion method, producing <100 nm particles. These nanosensors, PEBBLEs (Probe Encapsulated By Biologically Localized Embedding) have micromolar sensitivity and are non-responsive to other metal ions of biological interest.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sumner
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kopelman
mesh_terms: D004655:Emulsions; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005470:Fluorometry; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D049329:Nanostructures; D011108:Polymers; D013388:Succinimides; D014966:Xanthenes
chemical_list: C492694:Alexa Fluor 488 carboxylic acid succinimidyl ester; D004655:Emulsions; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011108:Polymers; D013388:Succinimides; D014966:Xanthenes; C034657:Texas red; D007501:Iron