A Fluorescent Probe Targeting Mitochondria and Lipid Droplets for Visualization of Cell Death

Subcellular organelles play an indispensable role in various biological process. Therefore, it is very important to develop fluorescent probe to identify different organelles and their dynamics in specific biological processes. Herein, a new fluorescent probe has been prepared, which can be used to visualize cell death via targeting mitochondria and lipid droplets (LDs) in dual-emission channels. The new probe appeared in the form of ring-open in mitochondria to emit strong yellow fluorescence in living cells, while it carried out intramolecular spiral cyclization reaction to target LDs and give a cyan emission in dead cells. The performance of cell death in the UV-exposure, lipopolysaccharide and hydrogen peroxide treatment is successfully revealed by the probe. The probe has great potential in dual colour biomedical imaging of dynamic changes of mitochondria and LDs in biological processes.