A silica supported tricarbocyanine based pH nanosensor with a large Stokes shift and a near infrared fluorescence response: performance in vitro and in live cells

TOUM TERRONES, YAMILI; COLUCCIO LESKOW, FEDERICO; BORDONI, ANDREA V.; ACEBEDO, SOFÍA L.; SPAGNUOLO, CARLA C.; 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 pHprobe with a remarkable Stokes shift (B135 nm) based on atricarbocyanine (Cy-PIP). The fluorescent molecule was anchoredto SiO 2 nanoparticles (Cy-PIP@SiO 2 ) and is capable of monitoringpH changes within the physiological range (pH 6?8). The Cy-PIP@SiO 2nanoparticles were successfully internalized by HeLa cells as shown byfluorescence confocal microscopy, while flow cytometry revealed pHfluctuations during the endocytic pathway.