Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Chemistry and Molecular Medicine, Hunan University , Changsha, Hunan 410082, China.
Anal Chem. 2014 Dec 16;86(24):12321-6. doi: 10.1021/ac503617n. Epub 2014 Dec 1.
Glutathione (GSH) serves vital cellular biological functions, and its abnormal levels are associated with many diseases. To better understand its physiological and pathological functions, efficient methods for monitoring of GSH in living systems are desired. Although quite a few small molecule-based and nanomaterial-based one photon fluorescence probes have been reported for GSH, two-photon (TP) probes, especially nanoprobes with good membrane permeability, are more favorable for bioimaging applications, since TP fluorescence imaging can provide improved spatial localization and increased imaging depth. In this work, we for the first time reported a "turn-on" TP fluorescence nanoprobe for efficient detection of GSH in aqueous solutions and TP excited fluorescence imaging of GSH in living cells and tissues. The nanoprobe consists of two-photon mesoporous silica nanoparticles (TP-MSNs) with a large TP excitation action cross-section (Φδ) value of 103 GM and MnO2 nanosheets, which show intense and broad optical absorption and could act as efficient quenchers for TP fluorescence. In the sensing system, the negatively charged MnO2 nanosheets are adsorbed on the positively charged MSNs through electrostatic interaction, resulting in efficient quenching of their fluorescence, with very low background fluorescence observed. The addition of GSH could reduce MnO2 into Mn(2+), lead to the decomposition of the MnO2 nanosheets, and thereby result in remarkable enhancement of both one photon and TP excited fluorescence of the nanosystem. The nanoprobe shows a highly sensitive response to GSH in aqueous solutions, with a detection limit of 200 nM achieved. It also exhibits a high selectivity toward GSH relative to other biomolecules and electrolytes, with good membrane permeability and excellent biocompatibility. The nanoprobe was successfully applied in monitoring the change of the intracellular GSH in living cells and tissues via TP fluorescence imaging, demonstrating its value of practical application in biological systems.
谷胱甘肽(GSH)在细胞生物学功能中起着至关重要的作用,其异常水平与许多疾病有关。为了更好地了解其生理和病理功能,需要开发用于在活系统中监测 GSH 的有效方法。尽管已经报道了相当多的基于小分子和纳米材料的单光子荧光探针用于检测 GSH,但双光子(TP)探针,特别是具有良好膜通透性的纳米探针,更有利于生物成像应用,因为 TP 荧光成像可以提供改进的空间定位和增加的成像深度。在这项工作中,我们首次报道了一种用于在水溶液中高效检测 GSH 的“开启”TP 荧光纳米探针,以及用于在活细胞和组织中进行 GSH 的 TP 激发荧光成像的纳米探针。该纳米探针由双光子介孔硅纳米颗粒(TP-MSNs)和 MnO2 纳米片组成,具有大的 TP 激发作用截面(Φδ)值为 103 GM,显示出强烈且宽的光吸收,可作为 TP 荧光的有效猝灭剂。在传感系统中,带负电荷的 MnO2 纳米片通过静电相互作用吸附在带正电荷的 MSNs 上,导致其荧光被有效猝灭,观察到非常低的背景荧光。加入 GSH 可将 MnO2 还原为 Mn(2+),导致 MnO2 纳米片分解,从而导致纳米系统的单光子和 TP 激发荧光都显著增强。该纳米探针对水溶液中的 GSH 具有高灵敏度响应,检测限达到 200 nM。它还表现出对 GSH 相对于其他生物分子和电解质的高选择性,具有良好的膜通透性和优异的生物相容性。该纳米探针成功地应用于通过 TP 荧光成像监测活细胞和组织中细胞内 GSH 的变化,证明了其在生物系统中实际应用的价值。