Li Yongchao, Zhang Liqing, Meng Xianfeng, Shi Guowei, Gao Wei, Duan Guiyun, Ge Yanqing
Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 619, Changcheng Road, Taian, 271016, Shandong, China.
J Fluoresc. 2024 Mar;34(2):829-832. doi: 10.1007/s10895-023-03305-0. Epub 2023 Jun 30.
Organic fluorophores with dual-state emission (DSE) are rare or difficult to observe because most of them display either aggregation-induced emission (AIE) or aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ). Amazing works have been accomplished, yet most of the DSE compounds were excited by UV light which limits their wide application in bioimaging. In this work, we achieved a visible-light excited DSE fluorophore and realized its imaging in SKOV-3 cells and zebrafish. The naphtho[2',3':4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (NIP) core ensures its emission in dilute solution. Meanwhile, the twisted phenyl ring blocks fluorescence quenching induced by the π-π stacking and leads to the emission of the solid. The fluorescence intensity is steady even after 6 h of continuous intense sunlight. More importantly, photostability of NIP in cells is much better than commercial dye (mitochondrial green).
具有双态发射（DSE）的有机荧光团很少见或难以观察到，因为它们大多数表现出聚集诱导发光（AIE）或聚集导致猝灭（ACQ）。虽然已经取得了令人瞩目的成果，但大多数DSE化合物是由紫外光激发的，这限制了它们在生物成像中的广泛应用。在这项工作中，我们获得了一种可见光激发的DSE荧光团，并在SKOV-3细胞和斑马鱼中实现了成像。萘并[2',3':4,5]咪唑并[1,2-a]吡啶（NIP）核心确保了其在稀溶液中的发射。同时，扭曲的苯环阻止了由π-π堆积引起的荧光猝灭，并导致固体发光。即使在连续强烈阳光照射6小时后，荧光强度仍然稳定。更重要的是，NIP在细胞中的光稳定性比商业染料（线粒体绿）好得多。
