Weiyong Feng

Bio: Weiyong Feng is an academic researcher from Central China Normal University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Fluorescence & Fluorophore. The author has an hindex of 19, co-authored 24 publications receiving 1078 citations.

Allyl Fluorescein Ethers as Promising Fluorescent Probes for Carbon Monoxide Imaging in Living Cells.

Abstract: Recently, the fluorescent detection of carbon monoxide (CO) in living cells has attracted great attention. However, due to the lack of effective ways to construct fluorescent CO probes, fluorescent detection of CO in living cells is still in its infancy. In this paper, we report for the first time the use of allyl ether as a reaction site for construction of fluorescent CO probes. By this way, two readily available allyl fluorescein ethers were prepared, which were found to be highly selective and sensitive probes for CO in the presence of PdCl2. These probes have the merits of good stability, good water-solubility, and rapid and distinct colorimetric and remarkable fluorescent turn-on signal changes. Moreover, a very low dose of these two probes can be used to detect and track CO in living cells, indicating that these two probes could be very promising biological tools for CO detection in living systems. Overall, this work provided not only two new promising fluorescent CO probes but also a new way to de...

Readily Available Fluorescent Probe for Carbon Monoxide Imaging in Living Cells

Abstract: Carbon monoxide (CO) is an important gasotransmitter in living systems and its fluorescent detection is of particular interest. However, fluorescent detection of CO in living cells is still challenging due to lack of effective probes. In this paper, a readily available fluorescein-based fluorescent probe was developed for rapid detection of CO. This probe can be used to detect CO in almost wholly aqueous solution under mild conditions and shows high selectivity and sensitivity for CO with colorimetric and remarkable fluorescent turn-on signal changes. The detection limit of this probe for CO is as low as 37 nM with a linear range of 0–30 μM. More importantly, this probe (1 μM dose) can be conveniently used for fluorescent imaging CO in living cells.

Near-Infrared Fluorescent Turn-on Probe with a Remarkable Large Stokes Shift for Imaging Selenocysteine in Living Cells and Animals.

Abstract: Selenocysteine (Sec) is the 21st naturally occurring amino acid and has emerged as an important sensing target in recent years However, fluorescent detection of Sec in living systems is challenging To date, very few fluorescent Sec probes have been reported and most of them respond fluorescence to Sec in the visible region In this paper, a very promising near-infrared fluorescent probe for Sec was developed This probe works in aqueous solution over a wide pH range under mild conditions and can be used for rapid, highly selective and sensitive detection of Sec with significant near-infrared fluorescent turn-on signal changes In addition, it features a remarkable large Stokes shift (192 nm) and a low detection limit (60 nM) for Sec with a wide linear range (0–70 μM) Moreover, this probe can be conveniently used to detect Sec in serum samples, living cells, and animals, indicating it holds great promise for biological applications

An aza-coumarin-hemicyanine based near-infrared fluorescent probe for rapid, colorimetric and ratiometric detection of bisulfite in food and living cells

Abstract: A novel aza-coumarin-hemicyanine conjugated hybrid was prepared, which was found to be a promising colorimetric and ratiometric near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe for detection of bisulfite/sulfite in aqueous solution. This probe shows a rapid response (within 30 s) and high selectivity and sensitivity for bisulfite/sulfite, giving distinct colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence changes at 717 and 560 nm. The detection limit for bisulfite was estimated to be 87 nM. In addition, detection of bisulfite in food samples and bioimaging of both exogenous and endogenous bisulfite in living cells with this probe were successfully applied, which indicates that this probe holds great potential for bisulfite detection both in real samples and in living cells.

Coumarin-Based Small-Molecule Fluorescent Chemosensors.

Abstract: Coumarins are a very large family of compounds containing the unique 2H-chromen-2-one motif, as it is known according to IUPAC nomenclature. Coumarin derivatives are widely found in nature, especially in plants and are constituents of several essential oils. Up to now, thousands of coumarin derivatives have been isolated from nature or produced by chemists. More recently, the coumarin platform has been widely adopted in the design of small-molecule fluorescent chemosensors because of its excellent biocompatibility, strong and stable fluorescence emission, and good structural flexibility. This scaffold has found wide applications in the development of fluorescent chemosensors in the fields of molecular recognition, molecular imaging, bioorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, materials chemistry, as well as in the biology and medical science communities. This review focuses on the important progress of coumarin-based small-molecule fluorescent chemosensors during the period of 2012-2018. This comprehensive and critical review may facilitate the development of more powerful fluorescent chemosensors for broad and exciting applications in the future.

Synthetic ratiometric fluorescent probes for detection of ions

Abstract: Metal cations and anions are essential for versatile physiological processes. Dysregulation of specific ion levels in living organisms is known to have an adverse effect on normal biological events. Owing to the pathophysiological significance of ions, sensitive and selective methods to detect these species in biological systems are in high demand. Because they can be used in methods for precise and quantitative analysis of ions, organic dye-based ratiometric fluorescent probes have been extensively explored in recent years. In this review, recent advances (2015-2019) made in the development and biological applications of synthetic ratiometric fluorescent probes are described. Particular emphasis is given to organic dye-based ratiometric fluorescent probes that are designed to detect biologically important and relevant ions in cells and living organisms. Also, the fundamental principles associated with the design of ratiometric fluorescent probes and perspectives about how to expand their biological applications are discussed.

Progress and Trends in AIE-Based Bioprobes: A Brief Overview.

Abstract: Luminescent bioprobes are powerful analytical means for biosensing and optical imaging. Luminogens featured with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) attributes have emerged as ideal building blocks for high-performance bioprobes. Bioprobes constructed with AIE luminogens have been identified to be a novel class of FL light-up probing tools. In contrast to conventional bioprobes based on the luminophores with aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect, the AIE-based bioprobes enjoy diverse superiorities, such as lower background, higher signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity, better accuracy, and more outstanding resistance to photobleaching. AIE-based bioprobes have been tailored for a vast variety of purposes ranging from biospecies sensing to bioimaging to theranostics (i.e., image-guided therapies). In this review, recent five years’ advances in AIE-based bioprobes are briefly overviewed in a perspective distinct from other reviews, focusing on the most appealing trends and progresses in this flourishing ...

Visible-to-NIR-Light Activated Release: From Small Molecules to Nanomaterials.

Abstract: Photoactivatable (alternatively, photoremovable, photoreleasable, or photocleavable) protecting groups (PPGs), also known as caged or photocaged compounds, are used to enable non-invasive spatiotemporal photochemical control over the release of species of interest. Recent years have seen the development of PPGs activatable by biologically and chemically benign visible and near-infrared (NIR) light. These long-wavelength-absorbing moieties expand the applicability of this powerful method and its accessibility to non-specialist users. This review comprehensively covers organic and transition metal-containing photoactivatable compounds (complexes) that absorb in the visible- and NIR-range to release various leaving groups and gasotransmitters (carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and hydrogen sulfide). The text also covers visible- and NIR-light-induced photosensitized release using molecular sensitizers, quantum dots, and upconversion and second-harmonic nanoparticles, as well as release via photodynamic (photooxygenation by singlet oxygen) and photothermal effects. Release from photoactivatable polymers, micelles, vesicles, and photoswitches, along with the related emerging field of photopharmacology, is discussed at the end of the review.

De Novo Design of Chemical Stability Near-Infrared Molecular Probes for High-Fidelity Hepatotoxicity Evaluation In Vivo.

Abstract: Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging technique is garnering increasing research attention due to various advantages. However, most NIR fluorescent probes still suffer from a false signals problem owing to their instability in real application. Especially in a pathological environment, many NIR probes can be easily destroyed due to the excessive generation of highly reactive species and causing a distorted false signal. Herein, we proposed an approach for developing a new stable NIR dye platform with an optically tunable group to eliminate false signals using the combination of dyes screening and rational design strategy. The conception is validated by the construction of two high-fidelity NIR fluorescent probes (NIR-LAP and NIR-ONOO–) sensing leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and peroxynitrite (ONOO–), the markers of hepatotoxicity. These probes (NIR-LAP and NIR-ONOO–) were demonstrated to sensitively and accurately monitor LAP and ONOO– (detection limit: 80 mU/L for LAP and 90 nM for ONOO–), thereby allow...