Red carbon dots as label-free two-photon fluorescent nanoprobes for imaging of formaldehyde in living cells and zebrafishes

• Published in: Chinese chemical letters 2020-03, Vol.31 (3), p.759-763
• Main Authors: Wang, Hong, Wei, Jing, Zhang, Chonghua, Zhang, Yuan, Zhang, Yubin, Li, Lin, Yu, Changmin, Zhang, Peisheng, Chen, Jian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon dots (CDs); Formaldehyde (FA); Intracellular imaging; Two-photon excitation; Zebrafishes
• ISSN: 1001-8417; 1878-5964
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2019.09.021

Red carbon dots (RCD) are reported as label-free two-photon fluorescent nanoprobes for detecting and imaging of FA. This nanoprobe features excellent selectivity, good cell-membrane permeability and biocompatibility, as well as the large two-photon absorption cross-section. In addition, RCD have been applied for monitoring FA in live cells and zebrafishes with OPM and TPM. [Display omitted] Direct, in situ selective detection of intracellular formaldehyde (FA) is of great significance for understanding its function in FA-related diseases. Herein, red carbon dots (RCD) are reported as label-free two-photon fluorescent nanoprobes for detecting and imaging of FA. Upon addition of FA, the -NH2 groups of RCD could quickly and specially react with aldehydes to form Schiff base and then the strong fluorescence of RCD with blue-shift emission is recovery due to the destruction of the hydrogen bond interaction between RCD and water. In addition, the nanoprobes exhibit outstanding photostability, rapid response (