A silica supported tricarbocyanine based pH nanosensor with a large Stokes shift and a near infrared fluorescence response: performance in vitro and in live cells†
Yamili
Toum Terrones, 
ab
Federico
Coluccio Leskow,
c
Andrea V.
Bordoni,
a
Sofía L.
Acebedo,
de
Carla C.
Spagnuolo
*de
and
Alejandro
Wolosiuk
*ab
ab
Federico
Coluccio Leskow,
c
Andrea V.
Bordoni,
a
Sofía L.
Acebedo,
de
Carla C.
Spagnuolo
*de
and
Alejandro
Wolosiuk
*ab
Abstract
We report the synthesis of a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent pH probe with a remarkable Stokes shift (∼135 nm) based on a tricarbocyanine (Cy-PIP). The fluorescent molecule was anchored to SiO2 nanoparticles (Cy-PIP@SiO2) and is capable of monitoring pH changes within the physiological range (pH 6–8). The Cy-PIP@SiO2 nanoparticles were successfully internalized by HeLa cells as shown by fluorescence confocal microscopy, while flow cytometry revealed pH fluctuations during the endocytic pathway.
Please wait while we load your content...
