Protein detection and quantitation by tetraphenylethene-based fluorescent probes with aggregation-induced emission characteristics.
Three functionalized derivatives of tetraphenylethylene (TPE), namely, 1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylethene (1), 1,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylethene (2), and 1,2-bis[4-(3-sulfonatopropoxyl)phenyl]-1,2-diphenylethene sodium salt (3), were synthesized and their fluorescence properties were investigated. All the TPE molecules are nonluminescent in the solution state but are induced to emit efficiently by aggregate formation. This novel process of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is rationalized to be caused by the restriction of intramolecular rotations of the dye molecules in the aggregate state. The possibility of utilizing the AIE effect for protein detection and quantification is explored using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein, with salt 3 being found to perform as a stable, sensitive, and selective bioprobe.
Tong
Hui
H
Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China.
Hong
Yuning
Y
Dong
Yongqiang
Y
Häussler
Matthias
M
Li
Zhen
Z
Lam
Jacky W Y
JW
Dong
Yuping
Y
Sung
Herman H-Y
HH
Williams
Ian D
ID
Tang
Ben Zhong
BZ
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D005030:Ethylenes; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011506:Proteins; C036216:ethylene