Issue 33, 2018

A cationic organoiridium(iii) complex-based AIEgen for selective light-up detection of rRNA and nucleolar staining

Abstract

A green emissive cationic organoiridium(III) complex, 2[PF6], with a benzimidazole-substituted 1,2,3-triazole-pyridine (BiPT) ligand has been synthesized for target-specific cellular imaging and selective detection of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) over other competitive biomolecules in aqueous buffer solution at physiological pH. Complex 2 shows aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) properties and forms nano-aggregates in the presence of poor solvents. DFT and TD-DFT-based quantum mechanical calculations were performed to substantiate some photophysical features and to establish the intermolecular π–π interactions which detain the vibrational as well as rotational motions to form the aggregates, resulting in enhanced photoluminescence (PL). To corroborate the formation of nano-aggregates and to understand the morphology of the aggregated particles, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements were performed. 2[PF6] showed low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility and was successfully employed in organelle-specific intracellular imaging. The in vivo and in vitro photoluminescence investigations affirmed that the probe stains cell nucleoli and selectively binds rRNA. It is assumed that the supramolecular π–π interactions between the benzimidazole of the BiPT ligand and the secondary structures of rRNA may facilitate aggregation and enable PL enhancement.

Graphical abstract: A cationic organoiridium(iii) complex-based AIEgen for selective light-up detection of rRNA and nucleolar staining

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 touko 2018
Accepted
24 heinä 2018
First published
24 heinä 2018

Dalton Trans., 2018,47, 11477-11490

A cationic organoiridium(III) complex-based AIEgen for selective light-up detection of rRNA and nucleolar staining

S. K. Sheet, B. Sen, K. Aguan and S. Khatua, Dalton Trans., 2018, 47, 11477 DOI: 10.1039/C8DT02099J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements