Supramolecular Fluorescent Nanoparticles Constructed via Multiple Non‐Covalent Interactions for the Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide in Cancer Cells

Overabundance of hydrogen peroxide originating from environmental stress and/or genetic mutation can lead to pathological conditions. Thus, the highly sensitive detection of H2 O2 is important. Herein, supramolecular fluorescent nanoparticles self-assembled from fluorescein isothiocyanate modified β-cyclodextrin (FITC-β-CD)/rhodamine B modified ferrocene (Fc-RB) amphiphile were prepared through host-guest interaction between FITC-β-CD host and Fc-RB guest for H2 O2 detection in cancer cells. The self-assembled nanoparticles based on a combination of multiple non-covalent interactions in aqueous medium showed high sensitivity to H2 O2 while maintaining stability under physiological condition. Owing to the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect, addition of H2 O2 led to obvious fluorescence change of nanoparticles from red (RB) to green (FITC) in fluorescent experiments. In vitro study showed the fluorescent nanoparticles could be efficiently internalized by cancer cells and then disrupted by endogenous H2 O2 , accompanying with FRET from "on" to "off". These supramolecular fluorescent nanoparticles constructed via multiple non-covalent interactions are expected to have potential applications in diagnosis and imaging of diseases caused by oxidative stresses.