Hill-type pH probes

作者：Shen, Shuhuai; Yang, Youjun; Luo, Xiao^*; Qian, Xuhong

来源：Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2023, 415(18): 3693-3702.

DOI：10.1007/s00216-023-04515-y

• pH sensing
• Positive cooperativity
• Hill-type
• Fluorescence imaging

Sensitive detection of the minute and yet pathologically significant pH variation is important and in fact challenging for the conventional pH probes following the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, i.e., HH-type probes. A paradigm shift to Hill-type pH probes is ongoing. Bestowed by their positive cooperative acid-base chemistry, their pH-responsive profile follows the Hill equation, which exhibits a narrower acid/base transition width than HH-type probes and warrants a higher detection sensitivity. A polymer-based Hill-type pH-responsive material was first developed. More recently, there emerged several distinct small-molecular approaches to achieve Hill-type pH-responsive profiles. They complement the polymer-based sensing materials in applications where membrane permeability is a concern. In this trends article, we rationalize the molecular origins of their positive cooperativity in pH sensing and highlight some interesting proof-of-concept applications. We also discussed future directions of this dynamic research area.

• 单位
  华东理工大学