"Turn-on" fluorescence probe integrated polymer nanoparticles for sensing biological thiol molecules.
A "turn-on" thiol-responsive fluorescence probe was synthesized and integrated into polymeric nanoparticles for sensing intracellular thiols. There is a photo-induced electron transfer process in the off state of the probe, and this process is terminated upon the reaction with thiol compounds. Configuration interaction singles (CIS) calculation was performed to confirm the mechanism of this process. A series of sensing studies were carried out, showing that the probe-integrated nanoparticles were highly selective towards biological thiol compounds over non-thiolated amino acids. Kinetic studies were also performed to investigate the relative reaction rate between the probe and the thiolated amino acids. Subsequently, the Gibbs free energy of the reactions was explored by means of the electrochemical method. Finally, the detection system was employed for sensing intracellular thiols in cancer cells, and the sensing selectivity could be further enhanced with the use of a cancer cell-targeting ligand in the nanoparticles. This development paves a path for the sensing and detection of biological thiols, serving as a potential diagnostic tool in the future.
Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
Chung Yen
CY
Ang
Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
Si Yu
SY
Tan
Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
Yunpeng
Y
Lu
Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
Linyi
L
Bai
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
Menghuan
M
Li
Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
Peizhou
P
Li
Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
Quan
Q
Zhang
Institute of Material Research and Engineering, 3 Research Link, Singapore 117602, Singapore.
Subramanian Tamil
ST
Selvan
1] Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore [2] School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
Yanli
Y
Zhao
D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010777:Photochemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011108:Polymers; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds