A PEDOT enhanced covalent organic framework (COF) fluorescent probe for in vivo detection and imaging of Fe3

Deshuai Zhen; Shaoqi Zhang; Aofeng Yang; Le Li; Qingyun Cai; Craig A Grimes; Yu Liu

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129104

A PEDOT enhanced covalent organic framework (COF) fluorescent probe for in vivo detection and imaging of Fe³

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Feb;259(Pt 1):129104. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129104. Epub 2023 Dec 30.

Authors

Deshuai Zhen¹, Shaoqi Zhang¹, Aofeng Yang², Le Li², Qingyun Cai³, Craig A Grimes⁴, Yu Liu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Hunan Key Laboratory of Typical Environment Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China.
² Hunan Key Laboratory of Typical Environment Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, PR China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China.
⁴ Flux Photon Corporation, 5950 Shiloh Road East, Alpharetta, GA 30005, United States.
⁵ Hunan Key Laboratory of Typical Environment Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China. Electronic address: yuliu0001@hnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38161014
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129104

Abstract

Simple and accurate in vivo monitoring of Fe³⁺ is essential for gaining a better understanding of its role in physiological and pathological processes. A novel fluorescent probe was synthesized via in situ solid-state polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) in the pore channels of a covalent organic framework (COF). The PEDOT@COF fluorescent probe exhibited an absolute quantum yield (QY) 3 times higher than COF. In the presence of Fe³⁺ the PEDOT@COF 475 nm fluorescence emission, 365 nm excitation, is quenched within 180 s. Fluorescence quenching is linear with Fe³⁺ in the concentration range of 0-960 μM, with a detection limit of 0.82 μM. The fluorescence quenching mechanism was attributed to inner filter effect (IEF), photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and static quenching (SQE) between PEDOT@COF and Fe³⁺. A paper strip-based detector was designed to facilitate practical applicability, and the PEDOT@COF probe successfully applied to fluorescence imaging of Fe³⁺ levels in vivo. This work details a tool of great promise for enabling detailed investigations into the role of Fe³⁺ in physiological and pathological diseases.

Keywords: Covalent organic framework; Fluorescent probe; In vivo imaging.

MeSH terms

Electron Transport
Fluorescent Dyes*
Metal-Organic Frameworks*
Optical Imaging
Polymerization

Substances

Fluorescent Dyes
Metal-Organic Frameworks