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Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of Molecular Rotors in Living Cells
Published on: February 9, 2012
Fluorescence switchable probes based on a molecular rotor for selective detection of proteins and small molecules
Hsiu-Ping Lai1, Ruo-Cing Gao1, Chi-Ling Huang1
1Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, 101 Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Rd, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan, Republic of China. kttan@mx.nthu.edu.tw.
Abstract:
In this communication, we report a general strategy to create fluorescence switchable probes, where a small molecule ligand is conjugated to a fluorescent molecular rotor, for the selective detection of proteins through a non-enzymatic process. In the presence of target proteins, bond rotation of the molecular rotor is restricted, thereby triggering the emission of strong fluorescence.
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