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Updated: May 5, 2026

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Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of Molecular Rotors in Living Cells
Published on: February 9, 2012
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A molecular rotor for measuring viscosity in plasma membranes of live cells
Ismael López-Duarte1, Thanh Truc Vu, M Angeles Izquierdo
1Chemistry Department, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ, UK. m.kuimova@imperial.ac.uk.
Abstract:
Molecular rotors have emerged as versatile probes for microscopic viscosity in live cells, however, the exclusive localisation of rotors in the plasma membrane has remained elusive. We report the synthesis, spectroscopic characterisation and live cell imaging of a new BODIPY-based molecular rotor suitable for mapping viscosity in the cell plasma membrane.

