Open AccessVisualizing semipermeability of the cell membrane using a pH-responsive ratiometric AIEgen
Author(s) -
Yuan Gu,
Zheng Zhao,
Guangle Niu,
Han Zhang,
Yiming Wang,
Ryan T. K. Kwok,
Jacky W. Y. Lam,
Ben Zhong Tang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.687
H-Index - 172
eISSN - 2041-6539
pISSN - 2041-6520
DOI - 10.1039/d0sc02097d
Subject(s) - membrane , chemistry , cell , cell membrane , biophysics , combinatorial chemistry , biochemistry , biology
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 of dhBBR , we found that non-ionized dhBBR can enter cells more easily than ionized forms, which is in accordance with the concept of ion trapping. In addition, dhBBR shows superior anti-photobleaching ability to Curcumin thanks to its AIE properties. These results suggest that dhBBR can serve as a bioprobe for ion trapping.