Self-Assembly of Electron Donor-Acceptor-Based Carbazole Derivatives: Novel Fluorescent Organic Nanoprobes for Both One- and Two-Photon Cellular Imaging.
In this study, we report fluorescent organic nanoprobes with intense blue, green, and orange-red emissions prepared by self-assembling three carbazole derivatives into nanorods/nanoparticles. The three compounds consist of two or four electron-donating carbazole groups linked to a central dicyanobenzene electron acceptor. Steric hindrance from the carbazole groups leads to noncoplanar 3D molecular structures favorable to fluorescence in the solid state, while the donor-acceptor structures endow the molecules with good two-photon excited emission properties. The fluorescent organic nanoprobes exhibit good water dispersibility, low cytotoxicity, superior resistance against photodegradation and photobleaching. Both one- and two-photon fluorescent imaging were shown in the A549 cell line. Two-photon fluorescence imaging with the fluorescent probes was demonstrated to be more effective in visualizing and distinguishing cellular details compared to conventional one-photon fluorescence imaging.
Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong & City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.
Jinfeng
J
Zhang
Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong & City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.
Wencheng
W
Chen
Sergii
S
Kalytchuk
Department of Physics and Institute of Advanced Materials, Hong Kong Baptist University , Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China.
King Fai
KF
Li
Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong & City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.
Rui
R
Chen
Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics Research (OPERA), Kyushu University , 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Chihaya
C
Adachi
Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong & City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.|Nano-organic Photoelectronic Laboratory, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, P. R. China.
Zhan
Z
Chen
Andrey L
AL
Rogach
Guangyu
G
Zhu
Peter K N
PK
Yu
Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong & City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.
Wenjun
W
Zhang
Department of Physics and Institute of Advanced Materials, Hong Kong Baptist University , Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China.
Kok Wai
KW
Cheah
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University , Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, P. R. China.
Xiaohong
X
Zhang
Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong & City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.
Chun-Sing
CS
Lee
D002227:Carbazoles; D004583:Electrons; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D049329:Nanostructures; D017785:Photons
D002227:Carbazoles; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes
carbazole derivatives; electron donor−acceptor; fluorescent organic nanoprobes; self-assembly; two-photon cellular imaging