Ratiometric Detection of β-Amyloid and Discrimination from Lectins by a Supramolecular AIE Glyconanoparticle

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 12; no. 47; pp. 6562 - 6567
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jun-Da, Mei, Ju, Hu, Xi-Le, He, Xiao-Peng, Tian, He
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2016
• Subjects: aggregation-induced-emission; Amyloid beta-Peptides - analysis; Amyloid beta-Peptides - chemistry; fluorescence; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; fret; glyconanoparticles; lectin; Lectins - analysis; Lectins - chemistry; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanotechnology; β-amyloid; aggregation-induced-emission; fret; fluorescence; glyconanoparticles; lectin; β-amyloid
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201601470

While the development of AIE (aggregation‐induced‐emission) based fluorimetric probes for biological applications has been an active research area, probes with a ratiometric signal for biomolecular recognition have been rare. Here, a ratiometric AIE glyconanoparticle formed by the supramolecular assembly between a silole‐based AIEgen and fluorescent glycoprobes for the detection of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides and fibrils, which are a signature of neurological disorders such as the Alzheimer's disease, is shown. Complexation of glycoprobes with the AIEgen produces an intensive fluorescence emission of the former because of a Förster resonance energy transfer between the two molecules. Subsequently, the presence of Aβ dissembles the particle, producing a fluorescence emission of the AIEgen. Interestingly, the addition of lectins that selectively recognize the glycoprobes results in a different ratiometric response of the particle, thereby enabling a discrimination from Aβ detection. This research offers insight into the simple construction of multifunctional ratiometric probes based on the supramolecular hybridization of a wide variety of AIEgens with fluorescent molecular probes. A unique aggregation‐induced‐emission glyconanoparticle (AIE‐GNP) is produced by the self‐assembly between a silole‐based AIEgen and glycoprobes for the ratiometric detection of β‐amyloid peptides and fibrils. The AIE‐GNP shows a different ratiometric response to lectins that recognize the glycoprobes, thus enabling a discrimination between two biomolecular analytes that both interact with the material.