A Sensitive Ratiometric Thermometer Constructed by AIEgen-Based Mixed Lanthanide MOF for Intracellular Temperature...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Accurate subcellular temperature sensing is crucial for understanding biological processes.
• Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) offers tunable luminescence properties.
• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provide versatile platforms for functional materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a highly sensitive ratiometric thermometer for intracellular temperature detection.
• To synthesize and characterize a novel AIE-based mixed lanthanide MOF (LnMOF).
• To demonstrate the practical application of the LnMOF for visual thermometry in living cells.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of an AIEgen-based mixed lanthanide MOF (LnMOF).
• Characterization of the LnMOF's photophysical properties, including temperature sensitivity.
• Nanoscale modification of the LnMOF for cellular uptake.
• In vitro and in vivo imaging of intracellular temperature in L929 and HeLa cells.

Main Results:

• The synthesized mixed LnMOF exhibits high sensitivity to temperature changes within the physiological range (291–321 K).
• Maximum relative sensitivity (S_m) reached ≈7.32% K^-1 at 321 K, outperforming existing ratiometric luminescent MOFs.
• Visual detection of intracellular temperature was successfully achieved in live L929 and HeLa cells.

Conclusions:

• The developed LnMOF serves as an effective ratiometric thermometer for precise subcellular temperature measurements.
• This work presents the first demonstration of MOF-based ratio thermometers for practical use in living cells.
• The findings open new avenues for advanced intracellular thermometry and biological studies.