Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion-Based Oxygen Sensors to Overcome the Limitation of Autofluorescence

Abstract

Autofluorescence is one of the many challenges in bioimaging as it can mask the emission from fluorescent probes or markers, a limitation that can be overcome via upconversion. Herein, we have developed a nanosensor that uses triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion to optically report changes in the dissolved oxygen concentration. Using a sensitizer-annihilator dye pairing of platinum(II) octaethylporphyrin and 9,10-diphenylanthracene, we monitored the oxygen consumption (as a proxy for metabolic activity) over time in a biological system─<i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> (brewing yeast). The nanosensor demonstrated good reversibility over multiple cycles and showed good signal and colloidal stability when tested over the course of 7 days, and it was sensitive to dissolved oxygen from 0.00 to 3.17 mg/L O₂. Additionally, there was no signal overlap between the nanosensor emission and <i>S. cerevisiae</i> autofluorescence, thus underscoring the utility of upconversion as a facile and economical means of overcoming autofluorescence.