Spying on the Polarity Dynamics during Wound Healing of Zebrafish by Using Rationally Designed Carbon Dots

Abstract

Wound healing is an essential and complex biological process. Research into its mechanism and factors that influence its effectiveness has led to better treatments. Changes in the microenvironment are demonstrated to affect wound healing. Cell polarity is a significant microenvironment-related parameter that is associated with many physiological and pathological activities. However, dynamic changes in polarity during wound healing have not been investigated. Monitoring cell polarity during wound healing may open up a new avenue for developing better treatments. Here, a method is developed to monitor cell polarity that involved taking advantage of the fascinating optical properties and biocompatibility of carbon dots (CDs). Specifically, near-infrared (NIR) polarity-sensitive N-phenyl-pphenylenediamine (PPh-CDs) are successfully prepared, which exhibit high sensitivity to polarity, with 509-fold stronger fluorescence in dioxane than in water. The PPh-CDs are successfully applied to monitor the changes of lysosomal polarity during starvation conditions. Using this method, dynamic changes of polarity during wound healing of zebrafish are monitored for the first time. Upon an amputation performed at the zebrafish tail, stronger PPh-CDs fluorescence appeared at the wound sites, and the intensity increased for 25 min and then gradually decreased. This report provides an important experimental basis for investigating wound healing by employing polarity-sensitive CDs.

High-fidelity carbon dots polarity probes: revealing the heterogeneity of lipids in oncology

“…Phenylenediamine isomers are widely employed in the preparation of CDs 28 . Recently, we have synthesized two polarity-responsive CDs by changing the substituents on the nitrogen of p–phenylenediamine precursor 12 , 16 . Owing to the substituents’ electron-donating or withdrawing ability, the ICT of the CDs can be enhanced, which improves the probes’ sensitivity to polarity.…”

A Yellow Fluorescence Probe for the Detection of Oxidized Glutathione and Biological Imaging

“…Zebrafish were obtained from the National Zebrafish Resources of China (Beijing). Zebrafish were soaked in water containing CDs (0.5 mg/mL) for 24 h. , Then, the CDs on the surface were removed by washing zebrafish with water. The fluorescence distribution was observed by an inverted fluorescence microscope (Leica Microsystems, German).…”

Recent Progress in Fluorescent Probes for Diabetes Visualization and Drug Therapy

“…Changes and developments in polarity may be caused by many cellular processes linked to spatial arrangement and protein composition such as cell differentiation, activation of the immune response, and localized membrane growth [64][65][66]. Abnormal polarity behavior may result in impaired function of subcellular organelles as well as the onset and development of various physiological or pathological activities [67]. For example, excessive accumulation of partially unfolded or glycosylated proteins in the ER stress environment can induce a polarity change [68].…”