Direct, in situ selective detection of intracellular formaldehyde (FA) is of great significance for understanding its function in FA-related diseases. Herein, red carbon dots (RCD) are reported as label-free two-photon fluorescent nanoprobes for detecting and imaging of FA. Upon addition of FA, the -NH2 groups of RCD could quickly and specially react with aldehydes to form Schiff base and then the strong fluorescence of RCD with blue-shift emission is recovery due to the destruction of the hydrogen bond interaction between RCD and water. In addition, the nanoprobes exhibit outstanding photostability, rapid response (< 1 min), high sensitivity (~9.9 μmol/L) and excellent selectivity toward FA over other aldehyde group compounds. Notably, owing to the good cell-membrane permeability and biocompatibility, as well as the large two-photon absorption cross-section, the as-prepared RCD can be used as label-free nanoprobes for selectively detecting and imaging FA in living cells and zebrafishes through one-photon and two-photon excitation. Moreover, RCD could stain the tissue of zebrafishes at depths interval of up to 240 mm under two-photon excitation. This research implied that RCD are promising tools for directly and in situ imaging FA in vivo, thus providing critical insights into FA-related pathophysiological processes.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |