Issue 11, 2023

Lighting up RNA-specific multi-photon and super-resolution imaging using a novel zinc complex

Abstract

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) probes are critical for understanding the role of RNA dynamics in cellular function but are in short supply due to the lack of optimized imaging systems and excellent fluorescence emission performance. Here, the terpyridine Zn(II) complex (Zn-T) with D–π-A configuration and bright aggregation-induced fluorescence emission (AIE) has been fabricated for the selective detection and real-time monitoring of RNA. Impressively, Zn-T exhibits a large Stokes shift and three-photon absorption (3PA) activity and responds specifically through hydrophobic interactions with an RNA pocket. The combination of AIE-assisted two-photon fluorescence and stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy of Zn-T for imaging nuclear RNA has higher spatial resolution and brightness, thus providing an imaging platform for studying RNA-related physiological or pathological processes.

Graphical abstract: Lighting up RNA-specific multi-photon and super-resolution imaging using a novel zinc complex

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 Sept. 2022
Accepted
11 Febr. 2023
First published
13 Febr. 2023

Nanoscale, 2023,15, 5486-5493

Lighting up RNA-specific multi-photon and super-resolution imaging using a novel zinc complex

Z. Feng, D. Zhang, H. Guo, W. Su, Y. Tian and X. Tian, Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 5486 DOI: 10.1039/D2NR05392F

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