A silica nanoparticle-based dual-responsive ratiometric probe for visualizing hypochlorite and temperature with distinct fluorescence signals

Jian Chena,∗,1, Chonghua Zhang b,1, Kun Lva,1, Hong Wanga, Peisheng Zhanga,b,∗,Pinggui Yi a, Jianhui Jiang b,∗∗

Hypochlorite (ClO−) and temperature play crucial roles in a wide range of physiological processes, and they are also implicated in various diseases, including cancer, inflammation of tissues and so on. Therefore, it is of great importance to explore a novel method to detect ClO− and temperature instantly. In this study, we developed a silica nanoparticle-based dual-responsive ratiometric fluorescent sensor (DRFS), whose correlative dual emissions can response to ClO− and temperature independently and sensitively. The detection limit of DRFS can reach to as low as 26 nM for the detection of ClO−. And further research demonstrates that DRFS possesses excellent anti-interference feature when other possible interferents exist, and has been successfully applied in ClO− detection in human serum and recognition of exogenous/endogenous ClO− in HeLa cells and macrophages by fluorescence microscopic imaging. Moreover, DRFS can also be used as a ratiometric temperature sensor, and the fluorescence intensity ratio (I576/I445) exhibits a linear temperature response in the range from 20 to 60 °C with a change ratio as large as a factor of 5. Based on the above research, the DRFS can be used as versatile fluorescence sensor in various physiological and environmental systems.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925400517308924

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 251 (2017) 533-541.