Graphene quantum dots based fluorescence turn-on nanoprobe for highly sensitive and selective imaging of hydrogen sulfide in living cells

• Main Authors: Li, Nan, Than, Aung, Chen, Jie, Xi, Fengna, Liu, Jiyang, Chen, Peng
• Other Authors: School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Engineering::Bioengineering; Graphene Quantum Dots; Fluorescence
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/137257
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), being an important gaseous signaling molecule, has been gaining increasing attention for its involvement in a wide range of physiological processes. Herein, we developed a novel fluorescence turn-on nanoprobe for selective and sensitive detection of H2S based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) conjugated with (2,4-dinitrophenoxy)tyrosine (DNPTYR). Taking advantage of its high fluorescence quantum yield, biocompatibility, photostability, and ease to be uptaken by cells, the GQD-based fluorescence probe was further employed for real-time monitoring of the triggered dynamic change of the intracellular H2S level in live cells.