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

doi:10.1039/d0sc02097d

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 journal › Article › peer-review

37 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 language	English
Pages (from-to)	5753-5758
Number of pages	6
Journal	Chemical Science
Volume	11
Issue number	22
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/d0sc02097d
Publication status	Published - 14 Jun 2020
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Visualizing semipermeability of the cell membrane using a pH-responsive ratiometric AIEgen",

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.",

author = "Yuan Gu and Zheng Zhao and Guangle Niu and Han Zhang and Yiming Wang and Kwok, \{Ryan T.K.\} and Lam, \{Jacky W.Y.\} and Tang, \{Ben Zhong\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Royal Society of Chemistry 2020.",

year = "2020",

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doi = "10.1039/d0sc02097d",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

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journal = "Chemical Science",

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publisher = "Royal Society of Chemistry",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Visualizing semipermeability of the cell membrane using a pH-responsive ratiometric AIEgen

AU - Gu, Yuan

AU - Zhao, Zheng

AU - Niu, Guangle

AU - Zhang, Han

AU - Wang, Yiming

AU - Kwok, Ryan T.K.

AU - Lam, Jacky W.Y.

AU - Tang, Ben Zhong

PY - 2020/6/14

Y1 - 2020/6/14

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85086441533

U2 - 10.1039/d0sc02097d

DO - 10.1039/d0sc02097d

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85086441533

SN - 2041-6520

VL - 11

SP - 5753

EP - 5758

JO - Chemical Science

JF - Chemical Science

IS - 22

ER -

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

Abstract

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