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Updated: May 21, 2026

Synthesis, Cellular Delivery and In vivo Application of Dendrimer-based pH Sensors

Synthesis, Cellular Delivery and In vivo Application of Dendrimer-based pH Sensors

Published on: September 10, 2013

Flipper dendrimers.

Nerea Gonzalez-Sanchis^1,2, Felix Bayard^1,2, Juan Manuel García-Arcos³

¹Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva Geneva Switzerland stefan.matile@unige.ch www.unige.ch/sciences/chiorg/matile/ +41 22 379 6523.

Chemical Science

|February 23, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

New flipper dendrimers significantly reduce phototoxicity in cell membrane imaging. These probes offer brighter fluorescence at lower laser power, enabling longer biological process monitoring.

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Area of Science:

Biophysics
Supramolecular Chemistry
Cell Biology

Background:

Fluorescent flipper probes are used to image forces in cell membranes.
Existing probes suffer from phototoxicity, limiting their application.
Significant performance improvements have been lacking since their initial design.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop improved fluorescent probes that address the phototoxicity issue.
To enhance fluorescence intensity and maintain responsiveness to membrane tension.
To enable longer-term monitoring of cellular processes.

Main Methods:

Introduction of flipper dendrimers, large peptide dendrimers inspired by inverted cones.
Engineering probe integration into the cellular environment using supramolecular chemistry.
Modulating fluorescence lifetime and membrane targeting via peptide dendrimers and hydrophobic interfacers.

Main Results:

Flipper dendrimers exhibit significantly stronger fluorescence in cells compared to existing probes.
Imaging can be performed at approximately one order of magnitude lower laser power.
Reduced phototoxicity allows for extended monitoring of biological dynamics.
Demonstrated control over probe orientation, distribution, and internalization.

Conclusions:

Flipper dendrimers represent a breakthrough in fluorescent probe technology by minimizing phototoxicity.
This supramolecular chemistry approach enhances probe performance by optimizing environmental integration.
The strategy is broadly applicable for improving other molecular probes.