Yong-Mei Xie

Mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe for real time monitoring of pH in living cells

Pyridinium functioned 7-hydroxy coumarin was presented as the first mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe CP for real time monitoring pH in living cells. Compared with commercially available mitochondrial trackers, CP possesses high specificity to mitochondria in living cells as well as good biocompatibility. Meanwhile, CP displays excellent pH sensitivity and anti-interference capability. Confocal image experiments confirm that CP can monitor mitochondrial pH changes associated with the mitochondrial acidification, cellular apoptosis and stress response efficiently in real time.

A novel carbazole-based mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe for bisulfite in living cells

A novel mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe was developed via condensation of carbazole with two indolium units, which could realize the detection of bisulfite in a PBS buffer solution. The probe exhibited good mitochondrial location ability and could selectively respond to bisulfite among other sulfur-containing species in living cells.

Rhodamine based pH-sensitive “intelligent” polymers as lysosome targeting probes and their imaging applications in vivo

Two rhodamine-based polymers (P-1 and P-2) were prepared via free radical polymerization, which could serve as lysosome targeting probes with prominent pH sensitivity. The polymers exhibited suitable water solubility and the content of rhodamine in them was determined through 1H NMR and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy. Both P-1 and P-2 have excellent selectivity, membrane permeability and low cytotoxicity. Confocal microscopy was used to investigate the intracellular distribution of lysosomes and visualize pH-responsive changes in the liver of zebrafish. Moreover, fluorescence imaging of nude mice of P-1 and P-2 displayed a chance for the visualization of cancerous tissue in vivo by sensing the tumor acidic microenvironments.

Rhodamine-based lysosome-targeted fluorescence probes: high pH sensitivity and their imaging application in living cells

Two rhodamine-based pH probes (RhP and RhPA) were synthesized via the click reaction. The probes exhibited high pH sensitivity and selectivity with significant fluorescence intensity enhancement. Cell imaging experiments demonstrated RhPA was a good lysosome targeting probe in living cells with low cytotoxicity and excellent photostability.

Dianthracene–cyclen conjugate: the first equal-equivalent responding fluorescent chemosensor for Pb2+ in aqueous solution

A dianthracene-cyclen conjugate was synthesized via click chemistry, which could serve as an equal-equivalent responding chemosensor for Pb(2+) in aqueous solution. Moreover, it could be successfully applied in the detection of Pb(2+) in living cells and fetal calf serum.

A single design strategy for dual sensitive pH probe with a suitable range to map pH in living cells

Due to the lack of a proper imaging approach, a veracious pH map of normal and abnormal cell is still rare. In this work, we presented a rhodamine-salicylaldehyde combination (Rh-SA2) as a novel pH probe, which has dual sensitive units for both acidic and basic environment. This dual sensitive probe acts like a chameleon in living cells and offers the doubling guarantees for endocellular pH mapping. Moreover, a quantitative measurement of cellular pH changes was allowed and the endocellular pH values under drug-associated stimuli were also investigated.

Novel mitochondria-targeted, nitrogen mustard-based DNA alkylation agents with near infrared fluorescence emission

In this report, the design of two novel nitrogen mustard-based DNA cross-linking agents with fluorophores incorporated into the structure (TN-A and TN-B) is disclosed. The results indicate that TN-A and TN-B can serve directly as both reporting and imaging agents for flow cytometry and gel electrophoresis without the necessity of another fluorescent tagging agents. TN-A and TN-B both selectively locate in the mitochondria and exhibit good antitumor activity. Notably, TN-A is the first DNA crosslinking agent with near infrared fluorescence emission properties.