Two-photon oxygen nanosensors based on a conjugated fluorescent polymer doped with platinum porphyrins

Methods Appl Fluoresc. 2018 Apr 27;6(3):035008. doi: 10.1088/2050-6120/aabe03.

Abstract

Ratiometric fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) under two-photon excitation are successfully developed for sensing dissolved oxygen. The NPs comprise the oxygen probe Pt(II)-porphyrins (PtTFPP) and fluorescent organic semiconducting polymer (PFO). PFO polymer acts as both a two-photon antenna and a reference dye, while PtTFPP absorbs the photonic energy transferred by the PFO under two-photon excitation at 740 nm to sense oxygen. The red fluorescence of PtTFPP is sensitive to oxygen with a quenching response of 88% from nitrogen saturation to oxygen saturation, and PFO gives oxygen-insensitive referenced blue fluorescence. The fluorescence quenching of the NPs against oxygen at two-photon excitation follows a linear Stern-Volmer behavior. The nanosensors exhibit low cytotoxic effects as well as effortless cellular uptake. When incorporated into cells, the ratio of the signals increases up to about 500% from oxygen-saturated to oxygen-free environment.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Platinum / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Porphyrins / chemistry*

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Porphyrins
  • Platinum