Silica supported tricarbocyanine based pH nanosensor with large Stokes shift and near infrared fluorescent response: performance in vitro and live cells

TOUM TERRONES, YAMILI; COLLUCCIO LESKOW, FEDERICO; BORDONI, ANDREA VERONICA; ACEBEDO, SOFÍA LORENA; SPAGNUOLO, CARLA CECILIA CECILIA; WOLOSIUK, ALEJANDRO

J. Mater. Chem. B

ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY

Año: 2017 vol. 5 p. 4031 - 4034

2050-750X

We report the synthesis of a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent pH probe with a remarkable Stokes shift reported (∼ 135 nm) based on a tricarbocyanine (Cy-PIP). The fluorescent molecule was anchored to SiO2 nanoparticles (Cy-PIP@SiO2) and is capable of monitoring pH changes within the physiological range (pH 6-8).The Cy-PIP@SiO2 nanoparticles were succesfully internalized by HeLa cells as shown by fluorescence confocal microscopy, while flow cytometry revealed pH fluctuations during the endocytic pathway.