pH-activatable near-infrared fluorescent probes for detection of lysosomal pH inside living cells

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-12-2014

Abstract

Four near-infrared fluorescent probes (A, B, C and D) have been synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for detection of lysosomal pH inside living cells. The fluorescent probes display highly sensitive and selective fluorescent response to acidic pH as the acidic pH results in drastic structural changes from spirocyclic (non-fluorescent) forms to ring-opening (fluorescent) forms of the fluorescent probes. The fluorescence intensities of the fluorescent probes (B, C and D) increase significantly by more than 200-fold from pH 7.4 to 4.2. The fluorescent probe D bearing the N-(2-hydroxyethyl) ethylene amide residue possesses the advantages of high sensitivity, excellent photostability, good cell membrane permeability, strong pH dependence, and low auto-fluorescence background. It has been successfully applied to selectively stain lysosomes and detect lysosomal pH changes inside normal endothelial and breast cancer cells.

Publisher's Statement

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015. Publisher's version of record: https://dx.doi.dorg/10.1039/C4TB00475B

Publication Title

Journal of Materials Chemistry B

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS