Multifunctional Nanoscale Metal-Organic Layers for Ratiometric pH and Oxygen Sensing

J Am Chem Soc. 2019 Dec 4;141(48):18964-18969. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b11024. Epub 2019 Nov 22.

Abstract

As a monolayered version of nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nMOFs), nanoscale metal-organic layers (nMOLs) represent an emerging class of highly tunable two-dimensional materials for hierarchical functionalization and with facile access to analytes. Here we report the design of the first nMOL-based biosensor for ratiometric pH and oxygen sensing in mitochondria. Cationic Hf12-Ru nMOL was solvothermally synthesized by laterally connecting Hf12 secondary building units (SBUs) with oxygen-sensitive Ru(bpy)32+-derived DBB-Ru ligands (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). The Hf12-Ru nMOL was then covalently functionalized with pH-sensitive fluorescein isothiocyanate and pH/oxygen-independent Rhodamine-B isothiocyanate through thiourea linkages to afford Hf12-Ru-F/R as a mitochondria-targeted ratiometric sensor for pH and O2 in live cells. High-resolution confocal microscope imaging with Hf12-Ru-F/R revealed a positive correlation between pH and local O2 concentration in mitochondria. Our work shows the potential of nMOL-based ratiometric biosensors in sensing and imaging of biologically important analytes in live cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Cell Line
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks / chemistry*
  • Mitochondria / chemistry
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Oxygen / analysis*

Substances

  • Metal-Organic Frameworks
  • Oxygen