Improving the sulfite-detection performance of a fluorescent probe post-synthetic modification with a metal-organic framework

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. B, Materials for biology and medicine Materials for biology and medicine, 2024-11, Vol.12 (43), p.11251-11258
• Main Authors: Shi, Jing-Yi, Wang, Bin, Cui, Xin-Yue, Hu, Xiao-Wei, Zhu, Hai-Liang, Yang, Yu-Shun
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 2050-750X; 2050-7518
• DOI: 10.1039/d4tb01754d

In this work, a post-synthetic modification strategy was attempted to improve the performance of the probe for sulfite detection. The assembled platform UiO-66-NH-DQA , which was acquired by anchoring the sulfite-response fluorescent probe DQA onto the surface of UiO-66-NH 2 via amide covalent bonds, exhibited enhanced fluorescence intensity and practical intracellular imaging capability. In spite of the structural similarity, as verified by characterization tests, the conversion rate of post-synthetic modification was calculated as 35%, equaling an approximate assembly ratio of 1 : 2 between UiO-66-NH 2 and DQA . Most significantly, conversion into UiO-66-NH-DQA led to a 5.6-fold enhancement in the reporting signal with a red shift of 20 nm. For sulfite detection, the linear range was 0-150 μM, with a limit of detection value of 0.025 μM. UiO-66-NH-DQA retained advantages including high stability (within pH 5.0-9.0), rapid response (within 15 min) and high selectivity. Based on low cytotoxicity and relatively rapid cellular uptake, UiO-66-NH-DQA achieved the imaging of both the exogenous and endogenous sulfite levels in living cells. In particular, its rapid cell-permeating capability was guaranteed during the modification. The post-synthetic modification strategy reported herein has potential for improving the practical properties of fluorescent monitoring materials. In this work, a post-synthetic modification strategy was attempted to improve the performance of the probe for sulfite detection.