Green light-emitting polyepinephrine-based fluorescent organic dots and its application in intracellular metal ions sensing.
In this paper, we present a class of bio-dots, polyepinephrine (PEP)-based fluorescent organic dots (PEP-FODs) for selective and sensitive detection of Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and Cu(2+). The PEP-FODs were derived from epinephrine via self-polymerization at relatively low temperature down to 60°C with low cytotoxicity and relative long lifetime (7.24ns). The surface morphology and optical properties of the synthesized PEP-FODs were characterized. We found that the diameters of PEP-FODs were mainly distributed in the narrow range of 2-4nm with an average diameter of 2.9nm. An optimal emission peak located at 490nm was observed when the green light-emitting PEP-FODs were excited at 400nm. It is discovered that Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and Cu(2+)can strongly quench the fluorescence of PEP-FODs through the nonradiative electron-transfer. The detection limit of 0.16, 0.67, and 0.15μM was obtained for Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and Cu(2+), respectively. The independent sensing platform of Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and Cu(2+)could be established by using NaF as a complexing agent and by regulating the reaction time between NaF and metal ions. Cell viability studies reveal that the as-prepared PEP-FODs possess good solubility and biocompatibility, making it as excellent imaging nanoprobes for intracellular Fe(2+), Fe(3+), and Cu(2+)sensing. The developed PEP-FODs might hold great promise to broaden applications in nanotechnology and bioanalysis.
Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
Zhong Feng
ZF
Gao
Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China.
Ting Ting
TT
Li
Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China.
Xiao Lei
XL
Xu
Department of Biophysics, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, China.
Yi Yao
YY
Liu
Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. Electronic address: luohq@swu.edu.cn.
Hong Qun
HQ
Luo
Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China. Electronic address: linb@swu.edu.cn.
Nian Bing
NB
Li
D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002412:Cations / Q000032:analysis; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
D002412:Cations; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D004837:Epinephrine
Biosensing; Fluorescent organic dots; Polyepinephrine