A nitro-capped tetraaniline derivative with AIE features for BSA detection and the selective imaging of Gram-positive bacteria

Abstract

A nitro-capped tetraaniline derivative (NO₂-B₃-Ani₄-NO₂) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) features was synthesized for the first time, and exhibited red fluorescence in the solid state with a maximum emission wavelength at 640 nm. Moreover, its ultra-sensitive turn-on response towards bovine serum albumin and the selective imaging of Gram-positive bacteria based on an AIE mechanism were investigated, implying its promising application in the biological field.