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Synthesis of an AIE-active fluorogen and its application in cell imaging

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Abstract

A fluorogen named 1-decyl-1-methyl-2,5-bis{4-[(N,N-diethylamino)methyl]phenyl}-3,4-diphenylsilole (3) was synthesized. It emitted weakly as isolated molecule but strongly as supramolecular aggregate, showing a characteristic behavior of aggregation-induced emission (AIE). The molecules of 3 formed highly emissive nanoparticles in aqueous media, which quickly and selectively marked cytoplasm of HeLa cells and posed no toxicity to the living cells. The fluorogen is thus a promising candidate material for cell imaging as a sensitive, selective and cytocompatible biosensor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST), Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China

    Yong Yu, YuNing Hong, JianZhao Liu, Jacky Wing Yip Lam, Mahtab Faisal & Ben Zhong Tang

  2. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, HKUST, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Yong Yu, Ka Ming Ng & Kathy Qian Luo

  3. Bioengineering Graduate Program, HKUST, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Chao Feng, Kathy Qian Luo & Ben Zhong Tang

  4. Institute of Biological and Medical Macromolecules, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China

    Ben Zhong Tang

Authors
  1. Yong Yu
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  2. YuNing Hong
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  3. Chao Feng
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  4. JianZhao Liu
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  5. Jacky Wing Yip Lam
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  6. Mahtab Faisal
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  7. Ka Ming Ng
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  8. Kathy Qian Luo
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  9. Ben Zhong Tang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Kathy Qian Luo or Ben Zhong Tang.

Additional information

Supported by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (Grant Nos. 603008, 601608 and 602707), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20634020) and the CAO GuangBiao Foundation of Zhejiang University.

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Yu, Y., Hong, Y., Feng, C. et al. Synthesis of an AIE-active fluorogen and its application in cell imaging. Sci. China Ser. B-Chem. 52, 15–19 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-009-0008-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-009-0008-0

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