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Intelligent magnetic microrobots with fluorescent internal memory for monitoring intragastric acidity

Senthilnathan, N.

Abstract

This study investigates the dynamic fluctuations of pH caused by gastric acidsecretion, a process of both biological and clinical significance, withmicrorobots. Abnormal patterns of acidity often indicate gastrointestinaldiseases, underlying the importance of precise intragastric pH monitoring.Traditional methods using fluorescent probes face challenges due to theirfaint solid-state fluorescence, limited target specificity, and accuracy. Toovercome these obstacles, pH-responsive fluorescent organic microparticlesdecorated with magnetite (Fe 3 O4 ) nanoparticles are engineered. Thesemicrorobots exhibit a unique fluorescence switching capability at a critical pH,enabling the monitoring of gastric acidity. The magnetic part of thesemicrorobots ensures magnetic maneuverability to enable targeted navigation.The microrobots’ fluorescence switching mechanism is elucidated throughcomprehensive spectroscopy, microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses,revealing molecular-level structural transformations upon interaction withgastric acid and antacids. These transformations, specifically protonation anddeprotonation of the microrobots’ fluorescent components, prompt a distinctfluorescence response correlating with pH shifts. In vitro and ex vivoexperiments, simulating stomach conditions, confirm the microrobots’efficacy in pH-responsive imaging. The results showcase the promisingdiagnostic potential of microrobots for gastrointestinal tract diseases,marking a significant advancement in imaging-based medical diagnostics attargeted locations.

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RESEARCH ARTICLE www.a m-jou nal.de In elligen Magne ic Mic o obo s wi h Fluo escen In e nal Memo y o Moni o ing In agas ic Acidi y N. Sen hilna han, Caga ay M. O al, Adam No obilsky, and Ma in Pume a* This s udy in es iga es he dynamic fluc ua ions o pH caused by gas ic acid sec e ion, a p ocess o bo h biological and clinical significance, wi h mic o obo s. Abno mal pa e ns o acidi y o en indica e gas oin es inal diseases, unde lying he impo ance o p ecise in agas ic pH moni o ing. T adi ional me hods using fluo escen p obes ace challenges due o hei ain solid-s a e fluo escence, limi ed a ge specifici y, and accu acy. To o e come hese obs acles, pH- esponsi e fluo escen o ganic mic opa icles deco a ed wi h magne i e (Fe3O4) nanopa icles a e enginee ed. These mic o obo s exhibi a unique fluo escence swi ching capabili y a a c i ical pH, enabling he moni o ing o gas ic acidi y. The magne ic pa o hese mic o obo s ensu es magne ic maneu e abili y o enable a ge ed na iga ion. The mic o obo s’ fluo escence swi ching mechanism is elucida ed h ough comp ehensi e spec oscopy, mic oscopy, and X- ay diff ac ion analyses, e ealing molecula -le el s uc u al ans o ma ions upon in e ac ion wi h gas ic acid and an acids. These ans o ma ions, specifically p o ona ion and dep o ona ion o he mic o obo s’ fluo escen componen s, p omp a dis inc fluo escence esponse co ela ing wi h pH shi s. In i o and ex i o expe imen s, simula ing s omach condi ions, confi m he mic o obo s’ efficacy in pH- esponsi e imaging. The esul s showcase he p omising diagnos ic po en ial o mic o obo s o gas oin es inal ac diseases, ma king a significan ad ancemen in imaging-based medical diagnos ics a a ge ed loca ions. N. Sen hilna han, C. M. O al, M. Pume a Fu u e Ene gy and Inno a ion Labo a o y Cen al Eu opean Ins i u e o Technology B no Uni e si y o Technology Pu kyˇ no a 123, B no 61200, Czech Republic E-mail: [email p o ec ed].cz A.No obilsky Depa men o Pha macologyandToxicology Ve e ina yResea chIns i u e Hudco a296/70,B no62100,CzechRepublic The ORCID iden ifica ion numbe (s) o he au ho (s) o his a icle can be ound unde h ps://doi.o g/10.1002/ad m.202401463 © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH. This is an open access a icle unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion License, which pe mi s use, dis ibu ion and ep oduc ion in any medium, p o ided he o iginal wo k is p ope ly ci ed. DOI: 10.1002/ad m.202401463 1. In oduc ion Gas ic acid, p ima ily composed o hy- d ochlo ic acid, pepsin, and lipase, plays a i al ole in ood diges ion by b eak- ing down p o eins in o se e al polypep- ides and amino acids.[1]pH o gas ic acid in he ange o 1.5–3 is c i ical o a heal hy diges i e sys em and p o ides significan p o ec ion om mic oo gan- isms and pa hogenic in ec ions in oduced h ough inges ed ood.[2,3]Imbalances in gas ic acid sec e ion lead o a ious gas- oin es inal diso de s, including gas oe- sophageal eflux disease (GERD) and pep- ic ulce s. P o on pump inhibi o s (PPIs) and an acids a e he mos commonly used medica ions o acid eflux ea men o con ol acid sec e ion and hei acidi y, espec i ely.[4]To assess he efficacy o hese medica ions owa d gas ic diso de s, moni o ing in agas ic acidi y is highly c i ical.[5,6]Al hough adi ional echniques, such as esophageal pH es ing and he Hei- delbe g capsule me hod, offe insigh ul in- o ma ion abou he pH changes o he gas ic acid, mos o hese me hods a e insensi i e and in asi e, lacking eal- ime M. Pume a Ad anced Nano obo s & Mul iscale Robo ics Labo a o y Facul y o Elec ical Enginee ing and Compu e Science VSB – Technical Uni e si y o Os a a 17. lis opadu 2172/15, Os a a 70800, Czech Republic M. Pume a Depa men o Medical Resea ch China Medical Uni e si y Hospi al China Medical Uni e si y No. 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan M. Pume a Depa men o Chemical and Biomolecula Enginee ing Yonsei Uni e si y 50 Yonsei- o, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Sou h Ko ea Ad . Func . Ma e . 2024,34, 2401463 2401463 (1 o 12) © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH www.ad ancedsciencenews.com www.a m-jou nal.de moni o ing capabili ies and causing discom o o he pa ien .[7,8] pH- esponsi e fluo escen molecula ma e ials, polyme s, quan um do s, and nanopa icles wi h high sensi i i y ha e been widely used in bio- ela ed applica ions, including con olled d ug deli e y, he apeu ic applica ions, and pH sensing wi hin cells, o ganelles, issues, and li ing animals.[9–12]Fluo escen molecu- la ma e ials s and ou among he o he ma e ials due o hei s uc u al and fluo escence ailo abili y, and hey a e u he appealing due o hei excellen he mal-, chemical-, and pho- os abili y. Howe e , i is wo h no ing ha mos fluo escen molecula ma e ials suffe om weak solid-s a e fluo escence, a phenomenon known as “agg ega ion-caused quenching” (ACQ), and lack o a ge selec i i y, limi ing hei easibili y in sensing applica ions.[13]Ins ead o ocusing solely on designing molec- ula ma e ials wi h high a ge selec i i y o bio-sensing appli- ca ions, an al e na i e and effec i e s a egy has been adop ed in his s udy o de ise molecula ma e ials-based mic o obo s wi h emo ely con olled na iga ion ea u es in esponse o ex e nal s imuli. This app oach no only simplifies he design p ocess bu also p o es o be highly effec i e o a ge ed sensing o physio- logical changes wi hin he bio-sys em.[14] The u iliza ion o mic o/nano obo s in he biomedical field is cons an ly ad ancing[15–18]as hey possess significan po en ial in he medical sec o o eplace con en ional e he ed obo ic sys- ems. The abili y o mic o obo s o na iga e in ha d- o-ope a e a - eas o he body highligh s hei p ominence as un e he ed small- scale su gical ins umen s owa d non-in asi e diagnosis and he apy.[19–21]Among he mic o obo s ha can exhibi locomo- ion unde diffe en s imuli, such as ligh i adia ion,[22–24]mag- ne ic field,[25–27]elec ic field,[28,29]and acous ic wa es,[30–32]mag- ne ically d i en mic o obo s a e p ominen candida es o bio- ela ed applica ions because o hei p ecisely con ollable uel- ee na iga ion ea u es, e en in high pene a ion dep hs, wi h- ou damaging he issue.[33–35]Ou esea ch g oup has success- ully de eloped such mic o obo s o a ious biomedical and en- i onmen al emedia ion applica ions, including biofilm e adi- ca ion, p os a e cance he apy, and he emo al o pollu an s om wa e (mic o/nanoplas ics, ni oa oma ic explosi es, and o ganic oxic pollu an s).[36–41]Al hough magne ic mic o obo s a e p omising candida es o hese applica ions, he equi emen o acking can be conside ed a significan challenge. In his ega d, fluo escence emission is a highly sensi i e and powe - ul ool ha can play a pi o al ole in bo h acking and sens- ing applica ions wi hin biological sys ems. I s significance lies in hei non-in asi e measu emen possibili y wi hou dis u bing he physiological unc ions o li ing sys ems. P e iously, ou e- sea ch g oup has c a ed fluo escen mic o obo s o o ganic dye deg ada ion and me al ion de ec ion applica ions.[42,43]Fluo es- cen mic o obo s ha e widesp ead use in di e se biomedical ap- plica ions, such as imaging-guided d ug deli e y and ela ed he - apeu ic in e en ions.[44–47]Fo ins ance, a ew s udies in ol ing zinc- and magnesium-based uel- ee mic o obo s ha e been e- po ed o gas ic acid neu aliza ion he apy in he gas oin es i- nal (GI) ac .[48–50]Recen ly, me al-based mic omo o s coa ed wi h comme cially exis ing NIR-II fluo escen dyes ha e been epo ed as p o on- esponsi e fluo escen p obes specifically de- signed o GIimaging. [51]He e,wedesignedanewse o mul i- fluo escen molecula ma e ials-based mic o obo s o moni o gas ic acid pH changes. To he bes o ou knowledge, o moni o ing he acidi y o in agas ic acid, fluo escen molecula ma e ial-based mic o obo s ha e no been epo ed p e iously. Ou choice o using diaminodicyanoquinodime hanes (DADQs) is no ewo hy due o hei pH-dependen fluo escence swi ch- ing p ope ies[52,53]and s ong solid-s a e fluo escence emission, popula ly known as “agg ega ion-induced emission (AIE)”.[54] Fu he mo e, DADQ de i a i es ha e been epo ed as bioma k- e s o he bac e ial spo es and s oma al cells o plan s, highligh - ing hei sui abili y o bio- ela ed applica ions.[55,56] In he p esen s udy, 7,7-bis(2-(2-aminoe hyl)py idino)−8,8- dicyanoquinodime hane (BAP) molecules wi h blue (BAP-B), g een (BAP-G), and o ange (BAP-O) fluo escence a e syn hesized o he ab ica ion o Fe3O4-deco a ed mul i-fluo escen mag- ne ic mic o obo s. In his mic o obo design, fluo escen BAP molecules a e he p ima y building block o he mic o obo s, and Fe3O4nanopa icles a e inco po a ed o magne ize he mic o- obo s o acili a e mo ion, na iga ion, and collec abili y. In addi- ion, spec oscopic and mic oscopic analyses p o ide insigh in o he molecula changes associa ed wi h he mic o obo s’ fluo es- cence swi ching. As illus a ed in Scheme 1, fluo escence imag- ing s udies success ully demons a e he cyclic pH a ia ions o gas ic acid by moni o ing he fluo escence changes o he fluo- escen mic o obo s a diffe en pH condi ions. Such signaling can pa e he way o he u iliza ion o fluo escen mic o obo s o diagnose GI ac in ec ions. The fluo escen mic o obo s ecog- nize he pH fluc ua ions and can also “ ecall” he acidic pH hey passed h ough —e en i hey e u n o he neu al pH solu ion— by adia ing dis inc colo s o a specific du a ion (Scheme 1c). Since memo y is one o he key elemen s o in elligence, we in- oduce mobile in elligen mic o obo s in his s udy. 2. Resul s and Discussion 2.1. Fab ica ion and Cha ac e iza ion Polymo phs o BAP molecules wi h diffe en fluo escence we e syn hesized by adop ing diffe en syn he ic condi- ions. BAP-B was syn hesized by he di ec addi ion o 2-(2- aminoe hyl)py idine in o he ace oni ile solu ion o e a- cyanoquinodime hane (TCNQ) a 72 °C o 3h(Figu e 1a).[52] Con e sely, BAP-G was syn hesized in e ahyd o u an (THF) om he same eac an s a 66 °C o 3h.1HNMRspec ao bo h BAP-B and BAP-G se ed as an e idence o hei s uc u al in eg i y and pu i y (Figu e S1, Suppo ing In o ma ion). The molecula s uc u e and uni cell molecula assembly o BAP-B and BAP-G c ys als we e de e mined using single-c ys al X- ay diff ac ion analysis (Figu e 1b–e). Single-c ys al X- ay diff ac- ion analysis u he e eals ha BAP-B and BAP-G molecules exhibi cha ac e is ic a e age dihed al angles o 46.11°and 42.35°, espec i ely, be ween he benzenoid co e ing and di- aminome hylene o BAP moie y (Tables S1, S2, Suppo ing In o ma ion). BAP-B c ys allizes as a P212121space g oup in i s ace oni ile solu ion,[52]whe eas BAP-G c ys allizes as a P21/c space g oup in he DMSO–wa e sol en mix u e. The H-bonding in e linked sup amolecula assembly o BAP-B and BAP-G molecules in he c ys als is depic ed in Figu es S2 and S3 (Suppo ing In o ma ion). On he o he hand, BAP-O was p epa ed by ea ing pu e BAP-G c ys als wi h ifluo oace ic Ad . Func . Ma e . 2024,34, 2401463 2401463 (2 o 12) © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH 16163028, 2024, 29, Downloaded om h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad m.202401463 by Technical Uni e si y Os a a, Wiley Online Lib a y on [02/12/2024]. See he Te ms and Condi ions (h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/ e ms-and-condi ions) on Wiley Online Lib a y o ules o use; OA a icles a e go e ned by he applicable C ea i e Commons License www.ad ancedsciencenews.com www.a m-jou nal.de Scheme 1. Schema ic ep esen a ion o he mul i-fluo escen magne ic mic o obo s o moni o ing cyclic pH a ia ions in gas ic acid. a) Mul i- fluo escen BAP (7,7-bis(2-(2-aminoe hyl)py idino)−8,8-dicyanoquinodime hane)-based mic o obo s. b) Magne ic collec abili y and ac ua ion o he mic o obo s unde ex e nal magne ic fields. c) Fluo escence swi ching o BAP mic o obo s a diffe en pH. d) Fluo escence imaging o BAP-O mic o- obo s a diffe en pH in so issue sandwich model and ex i o fluo escence imaging o mice be o e (con ol) and a e injec ing BAP-O mic o obo s. acid o an ex ended du a ion,[57]as ou lined in he Ma e ials and Me hods sec ion (s uc u al ea u es a e shown in Figu e S4a, Suppo ing In o ma ion). The 1H NMR spec um o c ude BAP- O e eals he e en ion o cha ac e is ic peaks obse ed in BAP-G wi h a downfield shi , along wi h he eme gence o new p o on signals o igina ing om a achmen s o he dicyanome hylene ca bon (𝛿=5.30 ppm) and py idine g oups (𝛿=4.15 ppm) as illus a ed in Figu e S4b (Suppo ing In o ma ion). The 19F NMR spec um p o es he p esence o ifluo oace ic acid moi- e y in he c ude BAP-O (Figu e S4c, Suppo ing In o ma ion). The esul s demons a e ha BAP-O is he p o ona ed o m o BAP-G, and pos -pu ifica ion, i s peak posi ions a e consis en wi h hose o pu e BAP-G (Figu e S5, Suppo ing In o ma ion). Elec onic abso p ion and emission spec a o all BAP molecules a e shown in Figu e 1 ,g, espec i ely. In he solid s a e, BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O molecules exhibi abso p- ion maxima a 360, 385, and 385 nm wi h a shoulde peak a 522 nm, espec i ely, while in ace oni ile solu ion, all molecules abso b he maximum a a ound 385 nm. The obse ed signifi- can blueshi in he solid abso p ion spec um o BAP-B can be a ibu ed o he push–pull molecula en i onmen . This shi e- sul s om he an ipa allel o ien a ion o neighbo ing molecula dipoles, c ea ing a localized elec ic field ha ele a es he exci ed ene gy le els, consequen ly inc easing he S0-S1ene gy gap.[52,54] The emission maxima o BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O molecules in he solu ion s a e a e obse ed a 477, 480, and 583 nm, e- spec i ely. In con as , in he solid s a e, hei maximum emis- sions occu a 447, 493, and 583 nm, espec i ely. In addi ion o he blueshi obse ed in he solid-s a e emission spec a, he e is a ema kable enhancemen in he in ensi y o solid-s a e emis- sions o ha o solu ion-s a e emission a an equi alen op ical densi y. The fluo escence enhancemen s a e likely due o he hind ance o in amolecula and in e molecula non- adia i e ex- ci ed s a e ene gy decay. The fluo opho es wi h s ong solid-s a e fluo escence emission a e p omising candida es o bio- ela ed applica ions, and his enhancemen phenomenon is well-known as “agg ega ion-induced emission” (AIE).[58]The fluo escence emission o BAP-G in he sol en mix u e o wa e and THF exhibi s significan enhancemen when he wa e ac ion is in- c eased om 0% o 95%, as depic ed in Figu e S6 (Suppo ing In- o ma ion), highligh ing i s agg ega ion-induced emissi e p op- e y. BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O mic opa icles ha ing deco a- ion o Fe3O4nanopa icles we e ab ica ed using a simple ep ecipi a ion me hod, as shown in Figu e S7a (Suppo ing In- o ma ion). Fe3O4nanopa icles a e employed o magne ize he mic opa icles and he eby acili a e hei mo ion in he p esence o a magne ic field, and hus called as mic o obo s. Acco ding o field emission scanning elec on mic oscopy (FESEM) images (Figu e 2a), BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O mic opa icles ha e simila mo phologies a e inco po a ing Fe3O4nanopa icles, as depic ed in Figu es S7b–m (Suppo ing In o ma ion), and he size o he mic o obo s is ound o be in he ange o 500 nm o 6μm. Ene gy-dispe si e X- ay spec oscopy (EDX) mapping con- fi ms he success ul a achmen o Fe3O4nanopa icles on he su ace o he ca bon-based mic o obo s du ing he ab ica ion p ocess. This a achmen is e iden om he p esence o i on and oxygen elemen s, as illus a ed in Figu e 2b. Space g oup a ia- ions be ween BAP-B and BAP-G molecules a e likely o induce dis inc molecula sel -assembly p ocesses and pa icle g ow h Ad . Func . Ma e . 2024,34, 2401463 2401463 (3 o 12) © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH 16163028, 2024, 29, Downloaded om h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad m.202401463 by Technical Uni e si y Os a a, Wiley Online Lib a y on [02/12/2024]. See he Te ms and Condi ions (h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/ e ms-and-condi ions) on Wiley Online Lib a y o ules o use; OA a icles a e go e ned by he applicable C ea i e Commons License www.ad ancedsciencenews.com www.a m-jou nal.de Figu e 1. Syn hesis and cha ac e iza ion o 7,7-bis(2-(2-aminoe hyl)py idino)−8,8-dicyanoquinodime hane (BAP). a) Schema ic ep esen a ion o he syn hesis o BAP-B and BAP-G. b,d) Molecula s uc u e and c,e) uni cell molecula assembly o b,c) BAP-B, and d,e) BAP-G de e mined using single- c ys al X- ay diff ac ion analysis, whe e C: g ey, N: blue, and H: ligh g ay. ) Abso p ion and g) emission spec a o BAP-B (Ex: 350 nm), BAP-G (Ex: 350 nm), and BAP-O (Ex: 520 nm) in solid- (con inuous lines) and solu ion-s a e (do ed lines). Solu ion-s a e emission spec a o BAP molecules we e mul iplied by a ac o o 100 o imp o e hei isibili y. mechanisms, leading o he o ma ion o pa icles wi h di e se mo phologies and su ace oughness. These cha ac e is ics play a c ucial ole in a ying deg ees o a achmen o Fe3O4nanopa - icles on he su aces o bo h BAP-B and BAP-G mic opa icles, as shown in Figu es 2a and S7 (Suppo ing In o ma ion). No ably, he p o ona ed s a e o BAP-O mic o obo s exhibi s enhanced a ac ion owa ds Fe3O4nanopa icles, as depic ed in Figu e 2a, hanks o he ionic in e ac ions. Fluo escence mic o- scopic images in Figu e 2c demons a e he mul i-fluo escen emissi e ea u es o mic o obo s, and i is impo an o highligh ha he obse ed fluo escence colo s o he mic o obo s a e consis en wi h hei emission spec a. The impac o he ab- ica ion p ocess on he molecula s uc u es o BAP molecules in he s uc u e o mic o obo s was analyzed using Fou ie - ans o m in a ed (FTIR) and powde X- ay diff ac ion (PXRD) s udies (Figu es 2d–g and S8 (Suppo ing In o ma ion)). PXRD pa e ns o as-p epa ed BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O, as well as he co esponding mic o obo s, indica e ha all hese samples exhibi a c ys alline na u e. The simula ed X- ay diff ac ion pa e ns o BAP-B and BAP-G a e closely ma ched wi h hose o hei as-p epa ed samples and mic o obo s. Addi ionally, in he FTIR spec a, cha ac e is ic peaks, and peak posi ions o as-p epa ed BAP-B and BAP-G emain unchanged o he mic o obo s, sugges ing he absence o s uc u al modifica ions du ing he ab ica ion p ocess. Howe e , in he p epa a ion o BAP-O, new peaks eme ged a 1677, 1632, and 1198 cm−1,along Ad . Func . Ma e . 2024,34, 2401463 2401463 (4 o 12) © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH 16163028, 2024, 29, Downloaded om h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad m.202401463 by Technical Uni e si y Os a a, Wiley Online Lib a y on [02/12/2024]. See he Te ms and Condi ions (h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/ e ms-and-condi ions) on Wiley Online Lib a y o ules o use; OA a icles a e go e ned by he applicable C ea i e Commons License www.ad ancedsciencenews.com www.a m-jou nal.de Figu e 2. Cha ac e iza ion o BAP mic o obo s. a) FESEM images o he BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O mic o obo s (Scale ba s: 1 μm). b) EDAX analy- sis o an indi idual BAP-G mic o obo deco a ed wi h Fe3O4nanopa icles, showing he p esence o ca bon, i on, and oxygen elemen s (Scale ba s: 2μm). c) Fluo escen mic oscopy images o BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O mic o obo s (Scale ba s: 5 μm). d, ) PXRD and e,g) FTIR spec a o as-p epa ed mic oc ys als and mic o obo s o d,e) BAP-B and ,g) BAP-O. A simula ed XRD pa e n o BAB-B is also shown o e e ence. Ad . Func . Ma e . 2024,34, 2401463 2401463 (5 o 12) © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH 16163028, 2024, 29, Downloaded om h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad m.202401463 by Technical Uni e si y Os a a, Wiley Online Lib a y on [02/12/2024]. See he Te ms and Condi ions (h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/ e ms-and-condi ions) on Wiley Online Lib a y o ules o use; OA a icles a e go e ned by he applicable C ea i e Commons License www.ad ancedsciencenews.com www.a m-jou nal.de Figu e 3. Collec abili y and ac ua ion o mic o obo s unde ex e nal magne ic fields. a) Pho og aphs o aqueous dispe sions o BAP-G mic o obo s unde UV ligh (i) be o e and (ii) a e he magne ic collec ion. b) Pic o ial ep esen a ion o he cus om-buil magne ic se up used o mo ion expe imen s. c) A e age speed and d) displacemen o BAP-G mic o obo s a diffe en equencies unde a magne ic field o 5 mT (Scale ba : 20 μm). e) Magne ically con olled na iga ion o a BAP-G mic o obo on he p edesigned “BAP ack” (Scale ba : 20 μm). wi h cha ac e is ic peaks o as-p epa ed BAP-G. The peaks o BAP-O a 1677 and 1198 cm−1a e a ibu ed o he p o ona ion o py idine and he p esence o C─F bond unc ionali ies ( om he ifluo oace ic acid), espec i ely. The eme gence o new peaks p o es once again ha BAP-O is he p o ona ed o m o BAP-G. No ably, he cha ac e is ic peaks o Fe3O4nanopa icles a e no obse ed in he spec a o any BAP mic o obo s due o hei limi ed p esence compa ed o BAP molecules. 2.2. Magne ic Ac ua ion The magne ic p ope ies o he as-p epa ed BAP-G and he co - esponding mic o obo s we e assessed h ough ib a ing sample magne ome e (VSM) analysis, and he esul ing magne ic hys- e esis loops a e epo ed in Figu e S9 (Suppo ing In o ma ion). The esul s e eal ha ba e BAP-G mic opa icles ha e a negli- gible magne ic esponse, while he magne ic p ope ies signifi- can ly change o BAP-G mic o obo s due o he p esence o Su- pe pa amagne ic Fe3O4nanopa icles. Addi ionally, he magne ic collec abili y o he mic o obo s was es ed using a neodymium– i on–bo on (NdFeB) magne close o BAP mic o obo s, as shown in Figu e 3a, and he images we e cap u ed unde he illumina- ion o UV ligh . In Figu e 3a(i), he dispe sion o mic o obo s in an aqueous medium is depic ed, while Figu e 3a(ii) illus a es he mic o obo s being a ac ed owa d he magne . Mic o obo s ha exhibi mo ion wi h localiza ion capabili y wi hin animal bod- ies unde he influence o a magne ic field highligh significan p omise o imaging applica ions in li ing o ganisms.[59]The e- o e, magne ically induced locomo ion o he BAP-G and BAP-O mic o obo s (Mo ies S1 and S2, espec i ely (Suppo ing In o - ma ion)) and hei con olled na iga ion (Mo ie S3, Suppo ing In o ma ion) we e ho oughly analyzed using a cus omized mag- ne ic se up equipped wi h an op ical mic oscope and a sophis i- ca ed con olling uni . In his se up, h ee o hogonal coil pai s we e employed o gene a e a ans e sal o a ing magne ic field o induce he mo ion o mic o obo s (Figu e 3b). To de e mine he s ep-ou equency o he mic o obo s, a e age speed alues we e calcula ed in he ange o 10–80 Hz while keeping he mag- ne ic field as 5 mT along he x-axis (Figu e 3c). The s ep-ou e- quency o BAP-G mic o obo s is iden ified as 30 Hz a 5 mT, as depic ed in Figu e 3c,d. A 30 Hz, he mic o obo s achie ed hei maximum speed o 8 μms −1, and a e age speed alues dec eased beyond his equency. The dec ease in speed alues is a ibu ed o he loss o mic o obo s’ synch oniza ion wi h he highe mag- ne ic equency, which is a esul o he inc eased iscous o que exe ed by he su ounding liquid.[60,61]Al hough he e a e a y- ing le els o Fe3O4nanopa icle a achmen obse ed on BAP-B and BAP-G mic o obo s as shown in Figu es 2a and S7 (Suppo - ing In o ma ion), hei speed emains ela i ely same a a ound 8μms −1. In con as , he highe concen a ion o Fe3O4nanopa - icles adhe ed o he su ace o BAP-O mic o obo s esul ed in an enhanced ac ua ion speed o app oxima ely 10 μms −1,su - passing ha o bo h BAP-B and BAP-G mic o obo s. Apa om speed, con olled na iga ion is also a c i ical ea u e o mic o- obo s o hei bio- ela ed applica ions and i is app aised by ob- se ing hei mo emen upon changing he di ec ion o he mag- ne ic field using a con olle . Figu e 3e and Mo ie S3 (Suppo ing In o ma ion) illus a e ha a single mic o obo can be na iga ed along a p edefined “BAP ack” by only adjus ing he di ec ion o he ex e nal magne ic field (5 mT, 20 Hz). The as esponse and he emo ely con ollable na iga ion o magne ic BAP mic o- obo s make hem a p omising candida e o a ious bio-medical applica ions, such as a ge ed diagnosis, moni o ing, and nano- su ge y. 2.3. Fluo escence P ope ies The pH-dependen op ical cha ac e is ics o BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O mic o obo s we e comp ehensi ely in es iga ed unde a ious condi ions. Elec onic abso p ion and fluo escence Ad . Func . Ma e . 2024,34, 2401463 2401463 (6 o 12) © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH 16163028, 2024, 29, Downloaded om h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad m.202401463 by Technical Uni e si y Os a a, Wiley Online Lib a y on [02/12/2024]. See he Te ms and Condi ions (h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/ e ms-and-condi ions) on Wiley Online Lib a y o ules o use; OA a icles a e go e ned by he applicable C ea i e Commons License www.ad ancedsciencenews.com www.a m-jou nal.de Figu e 4. pH-dependen fluo escence swi ching o mic o obo s and he memo y effec . a) Va ia ion o he fluo escence in ensi y o BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O mic o obo s a diffe en pH. b) Abso p ion and c) emission spec a (Ex: 350 nm) o BAP-B mic o obo s in wa e and gas ic fluid (GF), ollowed by he addi ion o an acid. Pho og aphs o d) BAP-B, e) BAP-G, and ) BAP-O mic o obo s a diffe en pH condi ions: ini ially in hei o iginal s a e in wa e (pH 7) and hen a e he addi ion o gas ic fluid (GF, pH 2), and finally ollowing he subsequen addi ion o an acid (AA, pH 7). A plausible mechanism o BAP-B’s p o ona ion and dep o ona ion a e he addi ion o gas ic acid and an acid is p o ided below he image (d). All he pho og aphs a e aken unde UV ligh (365 nm) illumina ion. emission spec a o he aqueous dispe sion o all BAP mic o- obo s we e eco ded a diffe en pH, as depic ed in Figu e S10 (Suppo ing In o ma ion), and he esul s a e summa- ized in Figu e 4a. The esul s indica e ha he fluo escence emission in ensi y o all BAP mic o obo s in he aqueous dispe - sions/solu ions dec eases as he acidi y o he solu ion inc eases. In o he wo ds, he fluo escen BAP mic o obo s and hei fluo- escence emission a e s able in he pH ange o 4–7, and he flu- o escence emission in ensi y expe iences a significan all when he pH d ops below 3 due o hei significan dissolu ion. These ini ial findings offe p omising p ospec s o moni o ing pH changes o gas ic acid (pH 1−3) by employing he fluo escen BAP mic o obo s. In he p ocess o moni o ing pH changes o gas ic acid, he ollowing se ies o expe imen s we e conduc ed. Ad . Func . Ma e . 2024,34, 2401463 2401463 (7 o 12) © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH 16163028, 2024, 29, Downloaded om h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad m.202401463 by Technical Uni e si y Os a a, Wiley Online Lib a y on [02/12/2024]. See he Te ms and Condi ions (h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/ e ms-and-condi ions) on Wiley Online Lib a y o ules o use; OA a icles a e go e ned by he applicable C ea i e Commons License www.ad ancedsciencenews.com www.a m-jou nal.de Ini ially, BAP-B mic o obo s we e subjec ed o gas ic acid and subsequen ly ea ed wi h an an acid (neu alize ), as shown in Figu e 4d– , o unde s and hei fluo escence swi ching p op- e ies. Blue fluo escen (BAP-B) mic o obo s lose hei fluo es- cence when ea ed wi h gas ic acid due o hei dissolu ion; he los fluo escence is immedia ely egained a e adding an an acid due o he e o ma ion o BAP mic opa icles (Figu e 4d). Du ing he dissolu ion p ocess in gas ic acid, BAP pa icles in he mi- c o obo s a e dissol ed, and hen deco a ed Fe3O4nanopa icles a e de ached om he s uc u e o he mic o obo s. Mos o he nanopa icles a e no ea ached o he su ace o BAP mic opa i- cles du ing he e o ma ion p ocess a e he addi ion o an acid. In e es ingly, he egained fluo escence emission appea s g een, bu o e se e al hou s, i g adually e u ns o i s o iginal blue flu- o escence. This ansi ion is one o he exci ing ea u es obse ed in he p ocess o moni o ing pH changes in gas ic acid, which was named as “fluo escence memo y.” Simila expe imen s we e also ca ied ou wi h BAP-G and BAP-O mic o obo s, and he esul s a e summa ized in Figu e 4e, . In he case o BAP-G mic o obo s, los fluo escence ollowing exposu e o gas ic acid is apidly es o ed o a g eenish-yellow fluo escence upon he addi ion o an an acid. Subsequen ly, i is ans o med back o i s o iginal g een fluo escence a e se e al hou s (Figu e 4e). The unde lying easons o hese ansi ions we e elucida ed using FTIR and PXRD analyses and discussed la e . On he con a y, he “fluo escence memo y” was no obse ed in BAP-O mic o obo s, and i s o iginal fluo escence was egained Immedia ely a e he addi ion o an an acid (Figu e 4 ). This diffe ence in he beha io o BAP-O mic o obo s om BAP-B and BAP-G mic o obo s is likely a ibu ed o he s uc u al mod- ifica ions unde gone by BAP-O du ing i s exposu e o ifluo- oace ic acid. I is impo an o no e ha BAP-B and BAP-G we e syn hesized om he same eac an s unde diffe en condi ions, whe eas BAP-O is he p o ona ed o m o BAP-G as depic ed in Figu e S4 (Suppo ing In o ma ion). The fluo escence swi ching o he mic o obo s in esponse o pH changes is also alida ed h ough spec oscopic analysis. The elec onic abso p ion and fluo escence emission spec a o ba e mic o obo s in wa e , gas ic acid, and ollowing he addi ion o an an acid a e depic ed in Figu es 4b,c. Figu e 4b illus a es ha BAP-B mic o obo s consis en ly display an abso p ion maxima a 355 nm in all he cases. E en hough BAP-B mic o obo s ha e simila op ical densi ies (highligh ing he same concen a ion) in all he cases, hey exhibi diffe en fluo escence emission wi h in ensi y a ia ions, as shown in Figu e 4c, due o he molecula s uc u al changes ha occu in he BAP-B moie y upon he addi- ion o gas ic acid and an acid. Ini ially, he aqueous dispe sion o BAP-B mic o obo s exhibi s an emission maximum a 444 nm, consis en wi h ha o he mic oc ys alline solid o m. Howe e , upon he addi ion o gas ic acid, he fluo escence peak almos disappea s due o he p o ona ion o BAP-B. The subsequen ad- di ion o an acid, specifically sodium bica bona e, es o es hem o hei dep o ona ed s a e, he eby b inging back he fluo es- cence peak a 485 nm wi h a no able ed-shi o 40 nm. The ed- shi ed fluo escence peak g adually e u ns o i s o iginal posi- ion a 444 nm o e ime. In simple e ms, a ain g een fluo es- cence peak ans o ms in o a i id blue fluo escence peak wi hin a span o 6 hou s, and his ansi ion was p e iously e e ed o as “fluo escence memo y” ansi ion. A simila expe imen was epea ed wi h BAP-G and BAP-O mic o obo s, yielding simila ou comes o BAP-G bu no o BAP-O. The abso p ion and flu- o escence emission maxima o he aqueous dispe sion o BAP-G mic o obo s a e obse ed a 355 and 492 nm, espec i ely, con- sis en wi h ha o hei mic oc ys alline. The fluo escence peak o BAP-G disappea s upon he addi ion o gas ic acid, and i is es o ed a e he in oduc ion o he an acid. No ably, he fluo es- cence memo y ansi ion is no significan ly obse ed in he case o BAP-G and no obse ed a all o BAP-O. As shown in Figu e S11 (Suppo ing In o ma ion), fluo escence emission peaks o BAP-O be o e and a e he addi ion o gas ic acid/an acid is no swi ched significan ly. The lack o a no iceable change indica es he absence o a fluo escence memo y ansi ion o BAP-O mi- c o obo s. To gain deepe insigh s in o molecula -le el changes unde - lying he fluo escence memo y ansi ion o BAP mic o obo s, FTIR and PXRD analyses we e ca ied ou (Figu es S12–S14, Suppo ing In o ma ion). In he FTIR analysis, ema kably, no changes we e isible in he ib a ional equencies o key unc- ional moie ies o all BAP mic o obo s, e en a e he addi ion o gas ic acid/an acid, as shown in Figu es S12–S14a (Suppo ing In o ma ion). The absence o molecula s uc u al changes sug- ges s ha he fluo escence memo y ansi ion may occu due o some o he ac o s. In o de o e eal i , PXRD analysis was ca - ied ou (Figu e S12–S14b, Suppo ing In o ma ion). The PXRD analysis un eils ha he e e sible c ys al-amo phous ansi ion ha occu s in BAP mic o obo s leads o hei fluo escence mem- o y ansi ions. The diff ac ion pa e ns clea ly e eal he ini- ial c ys alline na u e o as-p epa ed BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP- O, as well as he co esponding mic o obo s. As illus a ed in he diff ac ion pa e ns, excep o BAP-O mic o obo s, he o he wo mic o obo s lose hei c ys allini y upon he addi ion o gas- ic acid and an acid, which explains he absence o a fluo es- cence memo y ansi ion o BAP-O mic o obo s. In iguingly, hey g adually e-es ablish hei c ys allini y wi hin a 6-hou pe- iod. 2.4. Fluo escence Imaging The p ocess o p ac ical implemen a ion o moni o ing pH fluc- ua ions in gas ic acid using BAP fluo escen mic o obo s was ini ia ed wi h a comp ehensi e in i o imaging analysis. In hese expe imen s, equal quan i ies o ba e BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP- O mic o obo s we e indi idually placed in well pla es con ain- ing wa e , gas ic acid, and a mix u e o gas ic acid and an acid, as illus a ed in Figu e 5a, and fluo escence imaging was con- duc ed using app op ia e exci a ion and emission wa eleng hs. As shown in Figu e 5a, BAP mic o obo s display s ong fluo es- cence in he wells con aining wa e o a mix u e o gas ic acid and an acid. Howe e , hey exhibi no fluo escence emission in he gas ic acid wells. These esul s sugges ha all BAP mic o- obo s possess he capabili y o measu e in agas ic acidi y, mak- ing hem sui able o a di e se ange o in i o in es iga ions. Fu he mo e, a so issue model (Figu e 5b) was also u ilized o in es iga e he imaging pe o mance o mic o obo s when hey a e p esen below a issue. Fo hese expe imen s, aqueous sus- pensions o BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O mic o obo s we e sepa- a ely injec ed in o he issue sandwich model filled wi h 0.5 mL Ad . Func . Ma e . 2024,34, 2401463 2401463 (8 o 12) © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH 16163028, 2024, 29, Downloaded om h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad m.202401463 by Technical Uni e si y Os a a, Wiley Online Lib a y on [02/12/2024]. See he Te ms and Condi ions (h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/ e ms-and-condi ions) on Wiley Online Lib a y o ules o use; OA a icles a e go e ned by he applicable C ea i e Commons License www.ad ancedsciencenews.com www.a m-jou nal.de Figu e 5. Fluo escence imaging. a) Schema ic desc ip ion and fluo escence images o BAP-B, BAP-G, and BAP-O mic o obo s in wa e , in gas ic fluid (GF), and in a mix u e o GF and an acid (AA). b) Schema ic desc ip ion o a so issue model u ilized du ing imaging expe imen s and fluo escence esponse o BAP-O mic o obo s in wa e , in GF, and ollowed by he addi ion o AA in o he issue model. c,d) Random dis ibu ion and magne ic collec abili y o BAP-O mic o obo s in he issue model. e) Ex i o fluo escence imaging o mouse be o e (le ) and a e ( igh ) injec ion o BAP-O mic o obo s (injec ion loca ion is shown wi h an a ow). Ex: 410 nm and Em: 535 nm o BAP-B and BAP-G mic o obo s. Ex: 410 nm and Em: 600 nm o BAP-O mic o obo s. o wa e , and hen imaged unde he sui able exci a ion wa e- leng hs. As an impo an obse a ion, he fluo escence emi ed by BAP-B and BAP-G mic o obo s was no de ec able in he is- sue model (Figu e S15, Suppo ing In o ma ion). This lack o de- ec ion is a ibu ed o he in e e ence and o e lap wi h he au - ofluo escence o he issues u ilized o he expe imen s. How- e e , in con as o BAP-B and BAP-G mic o obo s, BAP-O mi- c o obo s we e success ully able o emi de ec able fluo escence in he issue model (Figu e 5b). This diffe ence could be a esul o he emission ange o BAP-O mic o obo s a he han he au - ofluo escence o he issue, enabling hei dis inc iden ifica ion and moni o ing capabili ies in a complex en i onmen .[62]La e , an aqueous dispe sion o BAP-O mic o obo s was injec ed in o he issue model filled wi h 0.5 mL o gas ic acid (0.01 M), and Ad . Func . Ma e . 2024,34, 2401463 2401463 (9 o 12) © 2024 The Au ho s. Ad anced Func ional Ma e ials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH 16163028, 2024, 29, Downloaded om h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ad m.202401463 by Technical Uni e si y Os a a, Wiley Online Lib a y on [02/12/2024]. See he Te ms and Condi ions (h ps://onlinelib a y.wiley.com/ e ms-and-condi ions) on Wiley Online Lib a y o ules o use; OA a icles a e go e ned by he applicable C ea i e Commons License