摘要
Photochromic molecules can achieve reversible isomerization upon alternate light irradiations, which offers a great opportunity to improve the precision of analytes detection and imaging in complicated biological environments. Previous reported photochromic probe exhibited only mono-color switching and an initially fluorescence-ON state that may cause high background signal and impose an adverse impact on the desired sensing precision. To overcome this set-back, we developed a novel photochromic probe with an analyte-activation mode for ratiometric sensing of toxic thiols in both real water samples and live cells. The dynamic dual-fluorescence signal is released only after the fast and selective cleavage of the 2,4-dinitrophenyl sulfonate by the targeted thiophenol derivatives. Consequently, a "double-check" with synchronized dual-fluorescence blinking for analyte detection is successfully employed upon alternate light triggers with rapid response(k=7.2×10^(-2) s^(-1)), high sensitivity(LOD=6.1 nM) as well as selectivity of thiophenol derivatives over other common thiol species(e.g., GSH, Cys and Hcy). The photochromic probe was successfully introduced to the fast and on-site detection of highly toxic thiophenols in real waste water samples. Moreover, by using confocal laser-scanning microscopy(CLSM) and flow cytometric analysis, the potential applications of this ratiometric photochromic probe for trace toxic thiol sensing in live cells are examined.
Photochromic molecules can achieve reversible isomerization upon alternate light irradiations, which offers a great opportunity to improve the precision of analytes detection and imaging in complicated biological environments. Previous reported photochromic probe exhibited only mono-color switching and an initially fluorescence-ON state that may cause high background signal and impose an adverse impact on the desired sensing precision. To overcome this set-back, we developed a novel photochromic probe with an analyte-activation mode for ratiometric sensing of toxic thiols in both real water samples and live cells. The dynamic dual-fluorescence signal is released only after the fast and selective cleavage of the 2,4-dinitrophenyl sulfonate by the targeted thiophenol derivatives. Consequently, a "double-check" with synchronized dual-fluorescence blinking for analyte detection is successfully employed upon alternate light triggers with rapid response(k=7.2×10-2 s-1), high sensitivity（LOD=6.1 nM） as well as selectivity of thiophenol derivatives over other common thiol species（e.g., GSH, Cys and Hcy）. The photochromic probe was successfully introduced to the fast and on-site detection of highly toxic thiophenols in real waste water samples. Moreover, by using confocal laser-scanning microscopy（CLSM） and flow cytometric analysis, the potential applications of this ratiometric photochromic probe for trace toxic thiol sensing in live cells are examined.
基金
supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21788102,21420102004,21878086)
the Shanghai Rising-Star Program(19QA1402500)
Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(2018SHZDZX03)
the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities(B16017)
financially supported by an award from China Scholarship Council
