Fluorescent Lanthanide Anthracene Frameworks for High-Resolution Cellular Imaging and Iron(II) Sensing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical Sensing

Background:

• Lanthanide-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable properties for diverse applications.
• Anthracene-derived ligands can be utilized to construct MOFs with unique architectures.
• Controlling MOF dimensionality is crucial for tailoring their functional performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel lanthanide-anthracene MOFs with varying dimensionalities.
• To investigate the suitability of these MOFs for biological imaging and chemical sensing.
• To establish a structure-property relationship linking MOF dimensionality to application performance.

Main Methods:

• Solvothermal synthesis of three lanthanide-anthracene MOFs (MOF-1, MOF-2, MOF-3) using a zwitterionic ligand (BCPA).
• Structural characterization revealing 1D chain (MOF-1) and 3D framework (MOF-2, MOF-3) architectures.
• Evaluation of photoluminescence properties for live-cell imaging and Fe2+ sensing.

Main Results:

• MOF-1, a 1D chain MOF, demonstrated nanometer-scale particle size, strong photoluminescence, and high solubility, enabling efficient live-cell imaging with minimal cytotoxicity.
• MOF-2 and MOF-3, 3D framework MOFs, exhibited robust fluorescence suitable for sensitive Fe2+ detection with high quenching efficiency and low detection limits.
• Dimensionality-induced differences in morphology and surface accessibility correlated with distinct application performances.

Conclusions:

• The dimensionality of lanthanide-anthracene MOFs significantly influences their suitability for specific applications.
• 1D MOFs can be optimized for biological imaging, while 3D porous MOFs are effective for chemical sensing.
• This study provides a rational design strategy for developing MOFs with tailored functionalities for imaging and sensing.