核酸适配体荧光探针在生化分析和生物成像中的研究进展

核酸适配体是指通过体外筛选技术从核酸文库中筛选出来,能够高特异性、高亲和力识别靶标物的寡核苷酸序列,具有靶标类型广泛、合成简单、相对分子质量小、化学稳定性高、易于进行生物化学修饰等优点。 核酸适配体能够通过折叠成特定的二维或三维构型与靶标物特异性结合,加上合适的信号转导机制,为重要靶标物的研究提供理想的分子识别与分子检测探针。 荧光检测技术具有高灵敏、高分辨率、易于实现多元分析等优点。 将核酸适配体的分子识别特性与荧光优异的光学检测性能相结合,在生命科学研究领域有着广泛的应用空间。 本文主要综述了核酸适配体荧光探针常见的分子设计和信号响应方式,及其在细胞成像、亚细胞成像中的应用研究,并对核酸适配体探针目前面临的一些挑战进行了讨论,最后对其未来的发展方向进行了展望。     

Environmentally Sensitive Color-Shifting Fluorophores for Bioimaging

We introduce color-shifting fluorophores that reversibly switch between a green and red fluorescent form through intramolecular spirocyclization. The equilibrium of the spirocyclization is environmentally sensitive and can be directly measured by determining the ratio of red to green fluorescence, thereby enabling the generation of ratiometric fluorescent probes and biosensors. Specifically, we developed a ratiometric biosensor for imaging calcium ions (Ca²⁺) in living cells, ratiometric probes for different proteins, and a bioassay for the quantification of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate.     

二氧化硅-共聚物杂化荧光纳米材料用于动物活体成像

以氧化硅（SiO₂）前驱体与三嵌段共聚物F108合成较小粒径的SiO₂-共聚物杂化纳米体系（SNP）,并与高效近红外发射的疏水染料M507自组装,构建了近红外发光纳米探针M507@SNP。同时,研究了M507@SNP的光物理性能和细胞毒性。动物成像实验证明该纳米成像探针可实现活体层次高信噪比的小动物全身成像和前哨淋巴结的指示。     

二氧化硅-共聚物杂化荧光纳米材料用于动物活体成像

以氧化硅(SiO_2)前驱体与三嵌段共聚物F108合成较小粒径的SiO_2-共聚物杂化纳米体系(SNP),并与高效近红外发射的疏水染料M507自组装,构建了近红外发光纳米探针M507@SNP。同时,研究了M507@SNP的光物理性能和细胞毒性。动物成像实验证明该纳米成像探针可实现活体层次高信噪比的小动物全身成像和前哨淋巴结的指示。     

环境响应的智能小分子有机凝胶材料

小分子有机凝胶(low molecule organogel,LMOG)是近年来逐渐发展起来的一类新型自组装材料,随着研究的深入,LMOG的功能化特别是对环境有智能响应的凝胶体系引起人们极大的研究兴趣。本文综述了4类智能响应的凝胶体系的研究进展,即: 光响应小分子凝胶体系,主要是凝胶因子内含有偶氮苯、二芳乙烯等光致变色基团;电化学响应小分子凝胶体系,主要是凝胶因子内含有四硫富瓦烯等电化学响应基团;离子(分子)响应的小分子凝胶体系,通过凝胶和客体离子(分子)间通过电荷转移或结构形变等形式实现响应;超声波响应小分子凝胶体系,在超声波外力的存在下,使分子结构以有利于形成分子间氢键的形式存在,从而形成稳定凝胶。     

Thermally Responsive Selenide-containing Materials Based on Transalkylation of Selenonium Salts

Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) possess unique properties as a result of their internal dynamic bonds, such as self-healing and reprocessing abilities. In this study, we report a thermally responsive C−Se dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) that relies on the transalkylation exchange between selenonium salts and selenides, which undergo a fast transalkylation reaction in the absence of any catalyst. Additionally, we demonstrate the presence of a dissociative mechanism in the absence of selenide groups. After incorporation of this DCC into selenide-containing polymer materials, it was observed that the cross-linked networks display varying dynamic exchange rates when using different alkylation reagents, suggesting that the reprocessing capacity of selenide-containing materials can be regulated. Also, by incorporating selenonium salts into polymer materials, we observed that the materials exhibited good healing ability at elevated temperatures as well as excellent solvent resistance at ambient temperature. This novel dynamic covalent chemistry thus provides a straightforward method for the healing and reprocessing of selenide-containing materials.     

用于生物成像的三线态-三线态湮灭上转换发光纳米胶囊

为解决三线态-三线态湮灭上转换发光材料(TTA-UC)生物应用时固载化困难的问题,通过一步细乳液聚合法合成了以正十六烷为内核,以红光激发的硅酞菁为敏化剂和发光高效的红荧烯为受体,具有优异上转换发光性能的核壳结构纳米胶囊(TTA-UCNP)。TTA-UCNP粒径约为190 nm,均一性及分散性良好。体系引入了抗氧化剂D-柠檬烯和聚异丁烯,有效消除了氧气分子对上转换发光过程的淬灭,保证了上转换发光的稳定性。在动物成像应用中,TTA-UCNP成功实现了活体层次前哨淋巴结高信噪比的成像及长时间示踪。     

Programmable DNA Nanoflowers for Biosensing,Bioimaging, and Therapeutics

DNA nanostructures have shown excellent prospects in biomedical applications owing to their unique sequence programmability, function designability, and biocompatibility. As a type of unique DNA–inorganic hybrid nanostructures, DNA nanoflowers (DNFs) have attracted considerable attention in the past few years. Precise design of the DNA sequence enables the functions of DNFs to be customized. Specifically, DNFs exhibit high physiological stability and more diverse properties by virtue of the incorporation of inorganic materials, which in turn have been applied in an assortment of biomedical fields. In this review, the design, synthesis, and biomedical applications of programmable DNFs are discussed. First, the background of DNA-based materials and the fundamentals of DNFs are briefly introduced. In the second part, two synthetic methods of DNFs are categorized as the rolling circle amplification and salt aging method, focusing on the formation mechanism of DNFs and differences between the synthetic methods. In the third part, the biomedical applications of DNFs functional materials are summarized, including biosensing, bioimaging, and therapeutics. Finally, the challenges and future opportunities of DNFs are discussed toward more widespread applications.     

Cyanine-Like Boronic Acid-Derived Salicylidenehydrazone Complexes (Cy-BASHY) for Bioimaging Applications

Boronic acid-derived salicylidenehydrazone complex (BASHY) dyes with a polymethine backbone were designed to yield efficient red-emitting and two-photon absorbing fluorophores that can be used as markers for astrocytes. The dyes are chemically stable in aqueous solution and do not undergo photodecomposition. Their photophysical properties can be electronically fine-tuned and thereby adapted to potentially different imaging situations and requirements.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Aggregation-Induced Emission Nanoparticles for Bioimaging

Conventional fluorescent dyes have the property of decreasing fluorescence due to aggregation-caused quenching effects at high concentrations, whereas aggregation-induced emission dyes have the property of increasing fluorescence as they aggregate with each other. In this study, diketopyrrolopyrrole-based long-wavelength aggregation-induced emission dyes were used to prepare biocompatible nanoparticles suitable for bioimaging. Aggregation-induced emission nanoparticles with the best morphology and photoluminescence intensity were obtained through a fast, simple preparation method using an ultrasonicator. The optimally prepared nanoparticles from 3,6-bis(4-((E)-4-(bis(40-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)-[1,10-biphenyl]-4-yl)amino)styryl)phenyl)-2,5-dihexyl-2,5-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione (DP-R2) with two functional groups having aggregation-induced emission properties and additional donating groups at the end of the triphenylamine groups were considered to have the greatest potential as a fluorescent probe for bioimaging. Furthermore, it was found that the tendency for aggregation-induced emission, which was apparent for the dye itself, became much more marked after the dyes were incorporated within nanoparticles. While the photoluminescence intensities of the dyes were observed to decrease rapidly over time, the prepared nanoparticles encapsulated within the biocompatible polymers maintained their initial optical properties very well. Lastly, when the cell viability test was conducted, excellent biocompatibility was demonstrated for each of the prepared nanoparticles.     

Controlled Click‐Assembly of Well‐Defined Hetero‐Bifunctional Cubic Silsesquioxanes and Their Application in Targeted Bioimaging

A general procedure for the assembly of hetero‐bifunctional cubic silsesquioxanes with diverse functionality and a perfectly controlled distribution of functional groups on the inorganic framework has been developed. The method is based on a two‐step sequence of mono‐ and hepta‐functionalization through the ligand‐accelerated copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition of a readily available octaazido cubic silsesquioxane. The stoichiometry of the reactants and the law of binomial distribution essentially determine the selectivity of the key monofunctionalization reaction when a copper catalyst with strong donor ligands is used. The methodology has been applied to the preparation of a set of bifunctional nano‐building‐blocks with orthogonal reactivity for the controlled assembly of precisely defined hybrid nanomaterials and a fluorescent multivalent probe for application in targeted cell‐imaging. The inorganic cage provides an improved photostability to the covalently attached dye as well as a convenient framework for the 3D multivalent display of the pendant epitopes. Thus, fluorescent bioprobes based on well‐defined cubic silsesquioxanes offer interesting advantages over more conventional fully organic analogues and ill‐defined hybrid nanoparticles and promise to become powerful tools for the study of cell biology and for biomedical applications.     

稀土发光配合物在水溶液中的组装及生物成像研究

稀土配合物具有较窄的f-f跃迁光谱带、较长的荧光寿命及较大的Stokes位移等独特的发光性质,同时其优异的顺磁性,赋予其在生物检测、疾病诊断及生物学活动研究中的重要应用价值.然而,稀土配合物大多水溶解性差,且荧光容易被环境中水分子O-H键的热振动淬灭等,极大地限制了其在水溶液及生物体系中的应用.近年来有研究表明,将稀土...     

A Triphenylphosphonium Functionalized AIE Conjugated Macrocyclic Tetramaleimide for Mitochondrial-targeting Bioimaging

Development of subcellular organelle-targeted bioimaging probes is of great importance in the field of early detection of diseases and exploring the behaviors of subcellular organelles. Herein, we present a triphenylphosphonium functionalized conjugated macrocyclic tetramaleimide (TPP-CMT) as a mitochondrial-targeting bioimaging probe. The core of TPP-CMT is obtained by connecting two pyrenes and two benzenes through four maleimides. This unique structure endows TPP-CMT with exceptional far red/near-infrared aggregation-induced emission (FR/NIR-AIE) characteristics. TPP-CMT is an excellent fluorescent emitter in most solvents and even in solid states. The quantum yield of TPP-CMT was higher than 27% when dissolved in common middle-polarity organic solvent and this value remained at 28.2% in its solid state. The introduction of four triphenylphosphonium on maleimide positions endows TPP-CMT with mitochondrial-targeting ability. Thanks to the FR/NIR-AIE characteristics and the mitochondrial-targeting ability, this well-designed fluorescent probe was successfully employed for mitochondrial targeting bioimaging of HeLa and HepG2 cells.      

Fluorescent Organic Small Molecule Probes for Bioimaging and Detection Applications

The activity levels of key substances (metal ions, reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen, biological small molecules, etc.) in organisms are closely related to intracellular redox reactions, disease occurrence and treatment, as well as drug absorption and distribution. Fluorescence imaging technology provides a visual tool for medicine, showing great potential in the fields of molecular biology, cellular immunology and oncology. In recent years, organic fluorescent probes have attracted much attention in the bioanalytical field. Among various organic fluorescent probes, fluorescent organic small molecule probes (FOSMPs) have become a research hotspot due to their excellent physicochemical properties, such as good photostability, high spatial and temporal resolution, as well as excellent biocompatibility. FOSMPs have proved to be suitable for in vivo bioimaging and detection. On the basis of the introduction of several primary fluorescence mechanisms, the latest progress of FOSMPs in the applications of bioimaging and detection is comprehensively reviewed. Following this, the preparation and application of fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONPs) that are designed with FOSMPs as fluorophores are overviewed. Additionally, the prospects of FOSMPs in bioimaging and detection are discussed.     

吲哚啉螺吡喃化合物光致变色性能的研究及在生物细胞成像中的应用

吲哚啉螺吡喃是一种重要的光致变色化合物,由于具有良好的变色回复性、抗疲劳性而得到广泛的关注.本文合成了1′-羟乙基-3′,3′-二甲基吲哚啉-6-硝基螺吡喃,研究了该化合物在紫外-可见光交替照射下紫外吸收强度的变化,并测试了光照前后化合物的荧光光谱.在开环态时,化合物具有优良的荧光性能,可以成功应用于细胞成像,在活细胞中可获得清晰的荧光成像图,同时也可以发挥螺吡喃光致变色可循环、耐疲劳等优势.     

Thermally Responsive Hydrogel Blends: A General Drug Carrier Model for Controlled Drug Release

Thermally responsive hydrogels have drawn significant research attention recently because of their simple use as drug carrier at human body temperature. Here we design a hybrid hydrogel that incorporates a hydrophilic polymer, polyethyleneimine (PEI), into the thermally responsive hydrogel poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm), as a general drug carrier model for controlled drug release. In this work, on one hand, PEI modifies the structure and the size of the pores in the PNIPAm hydrogel. On the other hand, PEI plays an important role in tuning the water content in the hydrogel and controls the water release rate of the hydrogel below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), resulting in a tunable release rate of the drugs at human body temperature (37 °C). Different release rates are shown as different amounts of PEI are incorporated. PEI controls the release rate, dependent on the charge characteristics of the drugs. The hydrogel blends described in this work extend the concept of a general drug carrier for loading both positively and negatively charged drugs, as well as the controlled release effect.     

An Unconventional Polymerization Route to Hydrophilic Fluorescent Organic Nanoparticles for Multicolor Cellular Bioimaging

We demonstrated an unconventional polymerization route to synthesize hydrophilic fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) for multicolor cellular bioimaging in this contribution. The route benefits from our unexpected discovery of a rapid polymerization reaction between 1,6‐hexanediol dipropiolate and 2,4,6‐triazide‐1,3,5‐triazine under the catalysis of N,N,N′,N′′,N′′‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA). Interestingly, the 2,4,6‐triazide‐1,3,5‐triazine and PMDETA system can also induce rapid free radical polymerization at room temperature. The as‐prepared FONs exhibited promising water solubility and stability with an average diameter of 20 nm. The excitation wavelength‐dependent fluorescent properties endow the FONs with blue, yellow, and red fluorescent emission under UV, blue, and green excitation, respectively. The cytotoxicity of FONs was investigated by using a Cell Counting Kit (CCK‐8) assay, which indicated good biocompatiblity. More importantly, the cell uptake experiment verified the FONs were excellent fluorescent nanoprobes for multicolor cellular bioimaging. Therefore, this unconventional route provides a novel fabrication strategy of highly hydrophilic FONs for biomedical applications.     

Bioimaging of Lysosomes with a BODIPY pH-Dependent Fluorescent Probe

Fluorescence-based probes represent a powerful tool for noninvasive imaging of living systems in real time and with a high temporal and spatial resolution. Amongst several known fluorophores, 3-difluoroborodipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives have become a cornerstone for innovative fluorescent labelling applications, mainly due to their advantageous features including their facile synthesis, structural versatility and exceptional photophysical properties. In this context, we report a BODIPY-based fluorescent probe for imaging of lysosomes in living cells. The BODIPY derivative displayed a remarkable fluorescence enhancement at low pH values with a pK_a* of 3.1. In vitro studies by confocal microscopy in HeLa cells demonstrated that the compound was able to permeate cell membrane and selectively label lysosome whilst remaining innocuous to the cell culture at the maximum concentration tested. Herein, the BODIPY derivative holds the promise of investigating lysosomal dynamics and function in living cells through fluorescence imaging.