A stable lanthanide-functionalized nanoscale metal-organic framework as a fluorescent probe for pH

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Chemical, 2018-01, Vol.254, p.1069-1077
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xin, Jiang, Ke, He, Huajun, Yue, Dan, Zhao, Dian, Cui, Yuanjing, Yang, Yu, Qian, Guodong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkalinity; Biocompatibility; Chemicals; Europium; Experiments; Feasibility; Fluorescence; Fluorescent indicators; Fluorescent probe; In vivo methods and tests; Luminescence; Metal-organic framework; Metal-organic frameworks; Metals; Organic chemistry; Postsynthetic modification
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2017.07.172

[Display omitted] •A fluorescent pH sensor Eu3+@UiO-67-bpydc was fabricated.•Eu3+@UiO-67-bpydc is a wide-range pH sensor with pH ranging from 1.06 to 10.99.•Eu3+@UiO-67-bpydc possesses favourable biocompatibility. A fluorescent pH sensor based on post-synthetically modified nanoscale UiO-67-bpydc by encapsulating Eu3+ cations in the pores was fabricated. The Eu3+ incorporated sample (Eu3+@UiO-67-bpydc) shows excellent luminescence due to the sensitization and protection provided by the parented framework. Subsequently, Eu3+@UiO-67-bpydc was developed as a pH sensor. Eu3+@UiO-67-bpydc shows good chemical resistance to both acidity and alkalinity solutions with pH ranging from 1.06 to 10.99, which makes it potentially useful for wide-range pH sensor. In addition, cycling experiments have demonstrated the utilizability of the sensor. The MTT analysis shows that Eu3+@UiO-67-bpydc possesses favourable biocompatibility. Furthermore, fluorescence imaging of Eu3+@UiO-67-bpydc in PC12 cells was also performed to test its feasibility in vivo. Given its exceptional stability and pH-dependent fluorescent intensity, the fluorescent probe should be a promising candidate for application in fluorescent pH sensing in vitro and in vivo.