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“Matthew Effect”: General Design Strategy of Fluorogenic Bioorthogonal Nanoprobes with Ultrahigh Emission Enhancement
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  • Shinsuke Segawa,
  • Xinwen OU,
  • Tianruo Shen,
  • Tomohiro Ryu,
  • Yuki Ishii,
  • Herman Sung,
  • Ian Williams,
  • Ryan T. K. Kwok,
  • Kiyoshi Miyata,
  • Ken Onda,
  • Xuewen He,
  • Xiaogang Liu,
  • Ben Tang
Shinsuke Segawa
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
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Xinwen OU
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
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Tianruo Shen
Singapore University of Technology and Design
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Tomohiro Ryu
Kyushu University
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Yuki Ishii
Kyushu University
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Herman Sung
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
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Ian Williams
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
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Ryan T. K. Kwok
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
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Kiyoshi Miyata
Kyushu University
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Ken Onda
Kyushu University
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Xuewen He
Soochow University College of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
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Xiaogang Liu
Singapore University of Technology and Design
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Ben Tang
The Chinese University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen

Corresponding Author:tangbenz@cuhk.edu.cn

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Abstract

Fluorescence imaging, a key technique in life science research, frequently utilizes fluorogenic probes for precise imaging in living systems. Tetrazine is an effective emission quencher in the design of fluorogenic probes, which can be selectively damaged upon bioorthogonal click reactions, leading to considerable emission enhancement. Despite significant efforts to increase the emission enhancement ratio upon click reaction (IAC/IBC) of tetrazine-functionalized fluorogenic probes, the influence of molecular aggregation on the emission properties has been largely overlooked in the design of these probes. In this study, we reveal that an ultrahigh IAC/IBC can be realized in the aggregate system when tetrazine is paired with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens. Tetrazine can increase its quenching efficiency upon aggregation and drastically reduce background emissions. Subsequent click reactions damage tetrazine and trigger significant AIE, leading to considerably enhanced IAC/IBC. We further showcase the capability of these ultra-fluorogenic systems in selective imaging of multiple organelles in living cells. We propose the term “Matthew Effect” in Aggregate Emission to describe the unique fluorogenicity of these probes, potentially providing a universal approach to attain ultrahigh emission enhancements in diverse fluorogenic aggregate systems.
09 Nov 2023Submitted to Aggregate
10 Nov 2023Submission Checks Completed
10 Nov 2023Assigned to Editor
11 Nov 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
21 Nov 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
22 Nov 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor