A versatile AIE probe with mitochondria targeting for dual-channel detection of superoxide anion and viscosity

Abnormal viscosity and excessive superoxide anion (O₂^•-) levels in living cells often cause a series of biological dysfunction and oxidative damage. However, a great challenge remains in quickly and conveniently detecting the viscosity and O₂^•- levels in living cells. Herein, we fabricated a versatile aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probe with mitochondria targeting, DTPB, for dual-imaging of viscosity and O₂^•- level in living cells with two different channels. The obtained DTPB contained a diphenyl phosphinic acid unit responsive to O₂^•-, a unit with twisted intramolecular charge trans (TICT) function responsive to viscosity, and a pyridine cation unit with mitochondria targeting. The results showed that DTPB exhibited a remarkable response to viscosity with a near-infrared emission peak at 671 nm and was highly sensitive to O₂^•- levels with an emission peak at 587 nm. The dual-channel probe has great application prospects in the visual diagnosis of cancer and related diseases.