Time-resolved analysis of photoluminescence at a single wavelength for ratiometric and multiplex biosensing and bioimaging†
Qi Wu,Peiling Dai,Yun Wang,Jin Zhang,Meng Li,Kenneth Yin Zhang,Shujuan Liu,Qiang Zhao
Chemical Science Pub Date : 07/26/2021 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/D1SC02811A
Abstract

Simultaneous analysis of luminescence signals of multiple probes can improve the accuracy and efficiency of biosensing and bioimaging. Analysis of multiple signals at different wavelengths usually suffers from spectral overlap, possible energy transfer, and difference in detection efficiency. Herein, we reported a polymeric luminescent probe, which was composed of a phenothiazine-based fluorescent compound and a phosphorescent iridium(III) complex. Both luminophores emitted at around 600 nm but their luminescence lifetimes are 160 times different, allowing time-resolved independent analysis. As the fluorescence was enhanced in response to oxidation by hypochlorite and the phosphorescence was sensitive toward oxygen quenching, a four-dimensional relationship between luminescence intensity, fluorescence/phosphorescence ratio, hypochlorite concentration, and oxygen content was established. In cellular imaging, time-resolved photoluminescence imaging microscopy clearly showed the independent fluorescence response toward hypochlorite and phosphorescence response toward oxygen in separated time intervals. This work opens up a new idea for the development of multiplex biosensing and bioimaging.

Graphical abstract: Time-resolved analysis of photoluminescence at a single wavelength for ratiometric and multiplex biosensing and bioimaging