A Photostable AIE Luminogen
for Specific Mitochondrial
Imaging and Tracking
- Publication date
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Abstract
Tracking the dynamics of mitochondrial morphology has
attracted
much research interest because of its involvement in early stage apoptosis
and degenerative conditions. To follow this process, highly specific
and photostable fluorescent probes are in demand. Commercially available
mitochondria trackers, however, suffer from poor photostability. To
overcome this limitation, we have designed and synthesized a fluorescent
agent, tetraphenylethene-triphenylphosphonium (TPE-TPP), for mitochondrial
imaging. Inherent from the mitochondrial-targeting ability of TPP
groups and the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics
of the TPE core, TPE-TPP possesses high specificity to mitochondria,
superior photostability, and appreciable tolerance to environmental
change, allowing imaging and tracking of the mitochondrial morphological
changes in a long period of time