Nanomaterials for intracellular pH sensing and imaging Ying Lian, Wei Zhang, Longjiang Ding, Xiao-ai Zhang, Yinglu Zhang, Xu-dong Wang* Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, 200433, Shanghai, CHINA Western Chemistry bld. 114, Handan Road No. 220, Shanghai
[email protected] Abstract: Intracellular pH is a vital parameter that precisely controls cell functionalities, activities and cellular events. Abnormal intracellular pH is always closely related to the healthy status of cells, which is further translated into pathological changes in a macro perspective. Because of the highly compartmentalized structure inside cells, the pH in each compartment can be precisely tuned to optimize certain cellular functionality, and biological reactions in these regions occur at optimum condition. Thus, it is important to design sensors that can precisely measure pH in these regions, and sensors must have good biocompatibility, physical stability, high sensitivity, wide measurement range, as well as fast response, to fulfill requirements for intracellular pH measurement. In this chapter, we will start from illustrating the importance of measuring intracellular pH, and further discuss how to design optical nanosensors for sensing and imaging intracellular pH. The state of the art technology in intracellular pH sensing and imaging will be reviewed, nanomaterials that are used for constructing intracellular pH sensors will be summarized and the perspective of nanomaterials for intracellular pH sensing and imaging will be given at the end. 1. Overview of the history of pH measurement pH is the abbreviation for Latin "Pondus hydrogenii", Pondus stands for power and hydrogenii stands for hydrogen. In chemistry, the pH scale is a numeric index used to specify acidity and alkalinity of aqueous solutions.