Mitochondrial targeted fluorescent probe with AIE characteristics for bioimaging

作者：Lu, Xiaodan; Hou, Meirong; Xia, Qi; Yan, Chenggong; Xu, Yikai^*; Liu, Ruiyuan^*

来源：Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications, 2017, 77: 129-135.

DOI：10.1016/j.msec.2017.03.127

• AIE
• Probe
• Mitochonadrial targeted
• Fluorescent
• In vivo imaging

In this work, a new benzothiazole based mitochondrial tracker, Bth-Mito, is synthesized by with 2-benzothiazoleacetonitrile and 4-(diethylamino)-benzaldehyde. Bth-Mito is weakly fluorescent when dissolved in the good solvent but becomes highly emissive in poor solvents, showing a phenomenon of aggregation-induced emission. Bth-Mito shows the greatest potentials for bioimaging applications in view of low cytotoxicity and high photostability. Bth-Mito could penetrate cells to give stable green fluorescence, even after continuous irradiation, making it suitable candidate for time-lapse and long-term bioimaging application. Moreover, Bth-Mito could specifically localize in mitochondrial. Furthermore, in vivo imaging studies on nude mice have revealed that Bth-Mito could be used as optical imaging probe for in vivo imaging. Histological assessment of tissues treated with Bth-Mito also further confirmed the low toxicity and good biocompatibility of Bth-Mito.

• 出版日期2017-8-1
• 单位南方医科大学