Design and development of fluorescence-capable novel pyrazine-based polycyclic heteroaromatics for cellular bioimaging

Abstract

Fluorescence-capable pyrazine-based polycyclic heteroaromatics for application in bioimaging were synthesized via a simple and concise methodology, and investigation on their fluorescence properties, including the effect of pH on the fluorescence behaviour, and MTT assays were carried out. Interestingly, the fluorescence of the substituted phenanthrenes and triphenylene compounds showed emission in the green to red region and had robust emission that did not get dramatically affected in the biologically relevant pH range. The MTT assay of these compounds on HeLa cells (a human cervical carcinoma cell line) revealed that the compound was well tolerated by cells and was cytocompatible. The molecules were internalized and can be easily used for imaging mammalian cells.