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Full Color Tunable Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogen for Bioimaging Based on an Indolizine Molecular Framework
Sang-Kee Choi1, Jungi Rho1, Sang Eun Yoon1
1Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Korea.
Bioconjugate Chemistry
|September 28, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed Kaleidolizine (KIz), a versatile molecular platform for creating novel aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens). This new framework enables tunable fluorescence and facilitates advanced bioimaging applications, overcoming limitations of traditional fluorophores.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
- Biomedical Imaging
Background:
- Conventional fluorophores suffer from aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), limiting their use in biological imaging.
- Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens (AIEgens) offer a solution, but versatile molecular platforms for their generation are scarce.
- Developing new AIEgens is crucial for advancing fluorescent probes in live cell imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce Kaleidolizine (KIz) as a novel molecular platform for generating diverse AIEgens.
- Demonstrate the tunable photophysical properties and AIE mechanism of the KIz system.
- Validate the utility of KIz-based probes for real-time bioimaging in live cells.
Main Methods:
- Systematic modification of substituents on the indolizine core to tune emission wavelengths.
- Investigating the AIE mechanism through crystal structure analysis, computational calculations, and solvatochromism studies.
- Synthesizing and evaluating triphenylphosphonium-conjugated KIz (TPP-KIz) for mitochondrial imaging.
Main Results:
- The KIz system exhibits tunable emission from 455 to 564 nm.
- A significant fluorescence intensity increase (up to 120-fold) was observed with increasing water fraction.
- The AIE mechanism in KIz involves a synergistic effect of intramolecular charge transfer and restriction of intramolecular rotation.
- TPP-KIz successfully enabled real-time bioimaging of mitochondria in live cells.
Conclusions:
- Kaleidolizine (KIz) is a versatile and generally applicable platform for developing novel AIEgens with desired photophysical properties.
- KIz-based probes offer excellent signal-to-noise ratios and experimental convenience for fluorogenic live cell imaging.
- The KIz system holds significant potential for advancing fluorescent probe development in various biological and materials science applications.
