Visualizing semipermeability of the cell membrane using a pH-responsive ratiometric AIEgen

Yuan Gu, Zheng Zhao, Guangle Niu, Han Zhang, Yiming Wang, Ryan T.K. Kwok, Jacky W.Y. Lam, Ben Zhong Tang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In clinical chemotherapy, some basic drugs cannot enter the hydrophobic cell membrane because of ionization in the acidic tumor microenvironment, a phenomenon known as ion trapping. In this study, we developed a method to visualize this ion trapping phenomenon by utilizing a pH-responsive ratiometric AIEgen, dihydro berberine (dhBBR). By observing the intracellular fluorescence ofdhBBR, we found that non-ionizeddhBBRcan enter cells more easily than ionized forms, which is in accordance with the concept of ion trapping. In addition,dhBBRshows superior anti-photobleaching ability toCurcuminthanks to its AIE properties. These results suggest thatdhBBRcan serve as a bioprobe for ion trapping.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5753-5758
Number of pages6
JournalChemical Science
Volume11
Issue number22
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Jun 2020
Externally publishedYes

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Gu, Y., Zhao, Z., Niu, G., Zhang, H., Wang, Y., Kwok, R. T. K., Lam, J. W. Y., & Tang, B. Z. (2020). Visualizing semipermeability of the cell membrane using a pH-responsive ratiometric AIEgen. Chemical Science, 11(22), 5753-5758. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0sc02097d