Tunable, ultrasensitive pH-responsive nanoparticles targeting specific endocytic organelles in living cells

Kejin Zhou, Yiguang Wang, Xiaonan Huang, Katherine Luby-Phelps, Baran D. Sumer, Jinming Gao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

463 Scopus citations

Abstract

Switch it up: Tunable, pH-responsive nanoparticles can be selectively activated in different endocytic compartments. At high pHvalues, micelle formation (see picture, left) quenches fluorescence by Förster resonance energy transfer. The micelles disassemble at low pHvalues, leading to fluorescence emission. This nonlinear on/off nanoplatform offers many exciting opportunities in diagnostic imaging and drug-delivery applications.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6109-6114
Number of pages6
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume50
Issue number27
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 27 2011

Keywords

  • cell cycle
  • fluorescent probes
  • micelles
  • nanostructures
  • pH activation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Tunable, ultrasensitive pH-responsive nanoparticles targeting specific endocytic organelles in living cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this