Multi-action of a Fluorophore in the Sight of Light: Release of NO, Emergence of FONs, and Organelle Switching.
Barsha ChakrabortySuprakash BiswasAnup PramanikApurba Lal KonerPublished in: ACS applied materials & interfaces (2022)
Light, as an external stimulus, has begun to engage a phenomenal role in the diverse field of science. Encouraged by recent progress from biology to materials chemistry, various light-responsive fluorescent probes have been developed. Herein, we present a 1,8-naphthalimide-based probe NIT-NO 2 capable of releasing nitric oxide (NO) along with the formation of fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) upon exposure to near-visible UV light. By synthesizing the photoproduct NIT-OH , we unveiled that initially NIT-NO 2 released NO and converted to NIT-OH , while prolonged irradiation led to the formation of FONs that is corroborated by the red-edge excitation shift as well as microscopic investigation. Finally, we have successfully applied NIT-NO 2 and NIT-OH for specific labeling of lipid droplets and plasma membranes, respectively, and demonstrated the switching from lipid droplets to plasma membranes by using light as a stimulus. These two probes show unique imaging applications inside the cells depending on the polarity and hydrophobicity of the environment. This work paves a fascinating way for the generation of excitation-dependent FONs from a small organic fluorophore and highlights its potency as an exclusive imaging tool.
Keyphrases
- living cells
- fluorescent probe
- nitric oxide
- quantum dots
- high resolution
- small molecule
- induced apoptosis
- fluorescence imaging
- single molecule
- public health
- oxidative stress
- energy transfer
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- mass spectrometry
- hydrogen peroxide
- label free
- radiation induced
- nitric oxide synthase
- cell death
- signaling pathway