title: pH-Sensitive polymer assisted self-aggregation of bis(pyrene) in living cells in situ with turn-on fluorescence.
abstract: Supramolecular self-assemblies with various nanostructures in organic and aqueous solutions have been prepared with desired functions. However, in situ construction of self-assembled superstructures in physiological conditions to achieve expected biological functions remains a challenge. Here, we report a supramolecular system to realize the in situ formation of nanoaggregates in living cells. The bis(pyrene) monomers were dispersed inside of hydrophobic domains of pH-sensitive polymeric micelles and delivered to the lysosomes of cells. In the acidic lysosomes, the bis(pyrene) monomers were released and self-aggregated with turn-on fluorescence. We envision this strategy for in situ construction of supramolecular nanostructures in living cells will pave the way for molecular diagnostics in the future.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Hebei University of Technology, No. 8 Guangrongdao, Hongqiao District, Tianjin, 300130, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhongyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Yu-Juan
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Zeng-Ying
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Shenglin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Yongmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chunyuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011108:Polymers; D011721:Pyrenes