Intracellular Imaging with a Graphene‐Based Fluorescent Probe

Abstract

Graphene is an increasingly important nanomaterial that has shown great promise in the area of nanotechnology. In this study, fluorescein‐functionalized graphene oxide (GO) is synthesized via a polyethylene glycol (PEG) bridge and its application in intracellular imaging is explored. GO is an oxide form of graphene that provides an ideal platform to prepare graphene‐based functional nanomaterials via chemical modification. The PEG bridge was introduced to prevent GO‐induced quenching of conjugated fluorescein. The fluorescein–PEG–GO conjugate thus prepared exhibits excellent pH‐tunable fluorescent properties and, more significantly, can be efficiently taken up by cells and serve as a fluorescent nanoprobe for intracellular imaging.