10.1021/acsami.7b09659.s001
Meizhi Zhao
Meizhi
Zhao
Zhaosheng Qian
Zhaosheng
Qian
Mengting Zhong
Mengting
Zhong
Zhentian Chen
Zhentian
Chen
Hang Ao
Hang
Ao
Hui Feng
Hui
Feng
Fabrication
of Stable and Luminescent Copper Nanocluster-Based AIE Particles and
Their Application in β‑Galactosidase Activity Assay
American Chemical Society
2017
uniform rod-like shapes
Luminescent Copper Nanocluster-Based AIE Particles
AIE particles
luminescence
CuNC AIE particles
aggregation-induced emission
CuNCs AIE particles
copper nanocluster
2017-09-01 00:00:00
Journal contribution
https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Fabrication_of_Stable_and_Luminescent_Copper_Nanocluster-Based_AIE_Particles_and_Their_Application_in_Galactosidase_Activity_Assay/5398429
Thiolated
copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) with aggregation-induced emission characteristic
are becoming a novel luminescent material, but it is still a challenging
task to retain its bright luminescence in a neutral solution. In this
work, we report a new copper nanocluster with aggregation-induced
emission (AIE) enhancement property using a hydrophobic molecule as
the protecting ligand, and brightly luminescent AIE particles of copper
nanocluster were prepared via hydrophobic interaction. These CuNCs
AIE particles possess uniform rod-like shapes, with sizes in hundreds
of nanometer, and an intense luminescence; more importantly, its luminescence
remains stable in neutral and alkaline solutions. It is found that
4-nitrophenol is able to effectively quench the luminescence of CuNC
AIE particles through strong hydrophobic interaction and electron
transfer between them. This strong quenching effect was adopted to
develop a luminescent assay for β-galactosidase at physiological
condition. This work presents a demonstration of preparing CuNC AIE
particles with bright luminescence at neutral condition and gives
an example of the use of AIE particles in monitoring the enzyme activity.